at once beautiful and strong?
The man without, lurking beside the window, watched the departure of the mother and daughter. He remained within the shadow until the yellow lights of the carriage had disappeared through the gates; then, he came forward, just as Rudd, the manservant, was closing the front door.
"What, you again?" gasped the servant.
"Yes. It's all right, I suppose? He ain't here?"
"The young master?" Rudd inquired, with a grin. "No. And it's lucky for you that he ain't."
"Parson in?" came the curt query.
"Yes," Rudd answered, reluctantly.
"Well, tell him I'm here," the deputy commanded, with a truculent air. "He'll want to see me, I guess. Anyhow, he'd better!"
THE CHECK
On the following morning, after breakfasting in her own room, Mrs. Swinton came downstairs, to find the house seemingly empty. She was not sorry to be left alone, for she was feeling out o
