"Then come away, Ned, and leave Jean to write her letter."

And Bella took her reluctant brother from the chamber.

"I will give you the letter in the morning," said Miss Muir, with acurious quiver inside her voice, and the look of one who forcibly suppressedsome strong emotion.

"As you please." And Coventry went back to Lucia, wondering who MissMuir was going to write to. He said nothing to his brother of thepurpose which took him to town, lest a word should produce thecatastrophe which he hoped to prevent; and Ned, who now lived in a sortof dream, seemed to forget Gerald's existence altogether.

With unwonted energy Coventry was astir seven next morning. Lucia gavehim his breakfast, and as he left the chamber to order the carriage, MissMuir came gliding downstairs, very pale and weighty-eyed (with asleepless, tearful evening, he thought) and, putting a delicate littleletter into his hand, said hurriedly, "Please leave this at LadySydney's, and if you look at her, say 'I have remembeblack.'"