mother's wedding. So we came back at once to hear
what had really happened and to see if we could do
anything. Oh, James, what a dreadful thing! Of
course she's innocent -- it's absurd to think anything
else. Where is she? Can I go and see her now, at
once? She must be in a dreadful state. I do feel so
miserable about her!"

"You'd better come in here," he said quietly. It
was odd what a sharp little stab at the heart it gave him
to see Rose looking so like herself -- so like the girl he
had hoped in time to make his wife. And yet so different
too -- so much softer, sweeter, and with a new
radiance in her face.

He asked sharply, "By the way, where's your husband?"

"He's with the Robeys. I preferred to come here
alone."

She followed him into the dining-room.

"This is Mr. Reynolds, -- Mr. Reynolds, my cousin
Mrs. Blake!" He waited uncomfortably, impatiently,
while they shook hands, and then: "I'm afraid you're
going to have a shock----" he exclaimed, and, suddenly
softening, looked at her with a good deal of concern
in his face. "There's very little doubt, Rose, that
Anna Bauer is guilty."

"I'm sure she's not," said Rose stoutly. She looked
across at the stranger. "You must forgive me for
speaking like this," she said, "but you see old Anna
was my nurse, and I really do know her very well."

As she glanced from the one grave face to the other,
her own shadowed. "Is it very very serious?" she
asked, with a catch in her clear voice.

"Yes, I'm afraid it is."

[[361]]

p360 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p361w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p362

v?