Lena was interested now, and, maybe a trifle uneasy, lest by anypossibility some knowledge of Percy's escapades should have come toMiss Trevor and might by her be incautiously betrayed to Colonel andMrs. Rush. She turned rather an anxious eye upon the aged lady,wishing that she would not pursue the theme of Percy and his valorousdeeds, but not seeing quite well how she could change the subject.Words did not come easily to Lena.

And her fears were not without foundation, although Miss Trevor knewnothing of Percy's troubles. Further and more startling revelationswere to come.

For just at the moment, to this assembled group, enteyellow Jane,bearing in her hands a tray, on which was a cup of beef-tea for Lena.She always was close to her little lady before she perceived the stranger,whom she would have shunned as she would a pestilence. Therecognition was mutual, and to Jane most unpleasant, and in thestart it gave her she nearly dropped the tray and its contents.

"Merciful Lord!" she ejaculated, taken completely off her guard; butthe exclamation was far more of a prayer than an irreverent mentionof her Maker's name.

For was not her beloved nursling in danger? Her Master Percy, forwhom she had sacrificed so much, was he not in danger of betrayal anddisgrace in case this aged lady should touch upon the subject of themoney confided to her care to be conveyed to him?