378 WYLDER'S HAND.
tion you were seen and recognised. The same occurred
at Charteris. You accompanied Mr. Mark Wylder in
his midnight flight to London, Miss Lake. Of your stay
in London I say nothing. It was protracted to the 2nd
October, when you arrived in the down train at Dolling-
ton at twelve o'clock at night, and took a cab to the ' White
House,' where you were met by a gentleman answering
the description of your brother, Captain Lake. Now,
Miss Lake, I have stated no particulars, but do you think
that knowing all this, and knowing the fraud by which
your absence was covered, and perfectly understanding, as
every man conversant with this sinful world, must do. the
full significance of all this, I could dream of permitting
you, Miss Lake, to become domesticated as an inmate in
the family of a pure-minded, though simple and unfortu-
nate clergyman?"
"It may become my duty," he resumed, "to prosecute
a searching enquiry, madam, into the circumstances of
Mr. Mark Wylder's disappearance. If you have the
slightest regard for your own honor, you will not precip-
itate that measure, Miss Lake; and so sure as you persist
in your unwarrantable design of residing in that unsus-
pecting family, I will publish what I shall then feel called
upon by my position to make known; for I will be no
party to seeing an innocent family compromised by admit-
ing an inmate of whose real character they have not the
faintest suspicion."
Looking straight in his face, with the same expression
of helplessness, she uttered at last a horrible cry of an-
guish that almost thrilled that callous Christian.
"I think I'm going mad!"
"Pray, compose yourself, Miss Lake —there's no need
to agitate yourself — nothing of all this need occur if
you do not force it upon me—nothing. I beg you'll
collect yourself — shall I call for water, Miss Lake?"