girl, Cassandra! You brave old dear! But he must come, that’s all. It is his right to know and to come. I can tell him. Let me.”

“No, no. Please, Mrs. Towers, you must not. He will come back as soon as he can; and now — now — he will be too late, since he — he did not sail when he meant to.”

Betty rose with a set look about the mouth. “Unless we cable him, Cassandra. Would there be time in that case? Come, you must tell me.”

“No, no,” wailed the girl. “And now he must not know until he comes. It would be cruel. I will not let you write him or cable him either.”

“Then what will you do?”

“Oh, I don’t