Mrs。　Milroy　had　just　looked　at　her　watch；　and　had　just　put　her
  hand　once　more　to　the　bell…pull；　when　the　door　opened　and　the
  nurse　entered　the　room。
  〃Has　the　postman　come？〃　asked　Mrs。　Milroy。
  The　nurse　laid　a　letter　on　the　bed　without　answering；　and　waited；
  with　unconcealed　curiosity；　to　watch　the　effect　which　it　produced
  on　her　mistress。
  Mrs。　Milroy　tore　open　the　envelope　the　instant　it　was　in　her
  hand。　A　printed　paper　appeared　（which　she　threw　aside）；
  surrounding　a　letter　（which　she　looked　at）　in　her　own
  handwriting！　She　snatched　up　the　printed　paper。　It　was　the
  customary　Post…　office　circular；　informing　her　that　her　letter
  had　been　duly　presented　at　the　right　address；　and　that　the　person
  whom　she　had　written　to　was　not　to　be　found。
  〃Something　wrong？〃　asked　the　nurse；　detecting　a　change　in　her
  mistress's　face。
  The　question　passed　unheeded。　Mrs。　Milroy's　writing…desk　was　on
  the　table　at　the　bedside。　She　took　from　it　the　letter　which　the
  major's　mother　had　written　to　her　son；　and　turned　to　the　page
  containing　the　name　and　address　of　Miss
  Gwilt's　reference。　〃Mrs。　Mandeville；　18　Kingsdown　Crescent；
  Bayswater；〃　she　read；　eagerly　to　herself；　and　then　looked　at　the
  address　on　her　own　returned　letter。　No　error　had　been　committed：
  the　directions　were　identically　the　same。
  〃Something　wrong？〃　reiterated　the　nurse；　advancing　a　step　nearer
  to　the　bed。
  〃Thank　Godyes！〃　cried　Mrs。　Milroy；　with　a　sudden　outburst　of
  exultation。　She　tossed　the　Post…office　circular　to　the　nurse；　and
  beat　her　bony　hands　on　the　bedclothes　in　an　ecstasy　of
  anticipated　triumph。　〃Miss　Gwilt's　an　impostor！　Miss　Gwilt's　an
  impostor！　If　I　die　for　it；　Rachel；　I'll　be　carried　to　the　window
  to　see　the　police　take　her　away！〃
  〃It's　one　thing　to　say　she's　an　impostor　behind　her　back；　and
  another　thing　to　prove　it　to　her　face；〃　remarked　the　nurse。　She
  put　her　hand　as　she　spoke　into　her　apron　pocket；　and；　with　a
  significant　look　at　her　mistress；　silently　produced　a　second
  letter。
  〃For　me？〃　asked　Mrs。　Milroy。
  〃No！〃　said　the　nurse；　〃for　Miss　Gwilt。〃
  The　two　women　eyed　each　other；　and　understood　each　other　without
  another　word。
  〃Where　is　she？〃　said　Mrs。　Milroy。
  The　nurse　pointed　in　the　direction　of　the　park。　〃Out　again；　for
  another　walk　before　breakfastby　herself。〃
  Mrs。　Milroy　beckoned　to　the　nurse　to　stoop　close　over　her。　〃Can
  you　open　it；　Rachel？〃　she　whispered。
  Rachel　nodded。
  〃Can　you　close　it　again；　so　that　nobody　would　know？〃
  〃Can　you　spare　the　scarf　that　matches　your　pearl　gray　dress？〃
  asked　Rachel。
  〃Take　it！〃　said　Mrs。　Milroy；　impatiently。
  The　nurse　opened　the　wardrobe　in　silence；　took　the　scarf　in
  silence；　and　left　the　room　in　silence。　In　less　than　five　minutes
  she　came　back　with　the　envelope　of　Miss　Gwilt's　letter　open　in
  her　hand。
  〃Thank　you；　ma'am；　for　the　scarf；〃　said　Rachel；　putting　the　open
  letter　composedly　on　the　counterpane　of　the　bed。
  Mrs。　Milroy　looked　at　the　envelope。　It　had　been　closed　as　usual
  by　means　of　adhesive　gum；　which　had　been　made　to　give　way　by　the
  application　of　steam。　As　Mrs。　Milroy　took　out　the　letter；　her
  hand　trembled　violently；　and　the　white　enamel　parted　into　cracks
  over　the　wrinkles　on　her　forehead。
  Rachel　withdrew　to　the　window　to　keep　watch　on　the　park。　〃Don't
  hurry；〃　she　said。　〃No　signs　of　her　yet。〃
  Mrs。　Milroy　still　paused；　keeping　the　all…important　morsel　of
  paper　folded　in　her　hand。　She　could　have　taken　Miss　Gwilt's　life；
  but　she　hesitated　at　reading　Miss　Gwilt's　letter。
  〃Are　you　troubled　with　scruples？〃　asked　the　nurse；　with　a　sneer。
  〃Consider　it　a　duty　you　owe　to　your　daughter。〃
  〃You　wretch！〃　said　Mrs。　Milroy。　With　that　expression　of　opinion；
  she　opened　the　letter。
  It　was　evidently　written　in　great　haste；　was　undated；　and　was
  signed　in　initials　only。　Thus　it　ran：
  〃Diana　Street。
  〃BY　DEAR　LYDIAThe　cab　is　waiting　at　the　door；　and　I　have　only　a
  moment　to　tell　you　that　I　am　obliged　to　leave　London；　on
  business；　for　three　or　four　days；　or　a　week　at　longest。　My
  letters　will　be　forwarded　if　you　write。　I　got　yours　yesterday；
  and　I　agree　with　you　that　it　is　very　important　to　put　him　off　the
  awkward　subject　of　yourself　and　your　family　as　long　as　you　safely
  can。　The　better　you　know　him；　the　better　you　will　be　able　to　make
  up　the　sort　of　story　that　will　do。　Once　told；　you　will　have　to
  stick　to　it；　and；　_having_　to　stick　to　it；　beware　of　making　it
  complicated；　and　beware　of　making　it　in　a　hurry。　I　will　write
  again　about　this；　and　give　you　my　own　ideas。　In　the　meantime；
  don't　risk　meeting　him　too　often　in　the　park。
  〃Yours；　M。　O。〃
  〃Well？〃　asked　the　nurse；　returning　to　the　bedside。　〃Have　you　done
  with　it？〃
  〃Meeting　him　in　the　park！〃　repeated　Mrs。　Milroy；　with　her　eyes
  still　fastened　on　the　letter。　〃_Him！_　Rachel；　where　is　the
  major？〃
  〃In　his　own　room。〃
  〃I　don't　believe　it！　〃
  〃Have　your　own　way。　I　want　the　letter　and　the　envelope。〃
  〃Can　you　close　it　again　so　that　she　won't　know？〃
  〃What　I　can　open　I　can　shut。　Anything　more？〃
  〃Nothing　more。〃
  Mrs。　Milroy　was　left　alone　again；　to　review　her　plan　of　attack　by
  the　new　light　that　had　now　been　thrown　on　Miss　Gwilt。
  The　information　that　had　been　gained　by　opening　the　governess's
  letter　pointed　plainly　to　the　conclusion　that　an　adventuress　had
  stolen　her　way　into　the　house　by　means　of　a　false　reference。　But
  having　been　obtained　by　an　act　of　treachery　which　it　was
  impossible　to　acknowledge；　it　was　not　information　that　could　be
  used　either　for　warning　the　major　or　for　exposing　Miss　Gwilt。　The
  one　available　weapon　in　Mrs。　Milroy's　hands　was　the　weapon
  furnished　by　her　own　returned　letter；　and　the　one　question　to
  decide　was　how　to　make　the　best　and　speediest　use　of　it。
  The　longer　she　turned　the　matter　over　in　her　mind；　the　more　hasty
  and　premature　seemed　the　exultation　which　she　had　felt　at　the
  first　sight　of　the　Post…office　circular。　That　a　lady　acting　as
  reference　to　a　governess　should　have　quitted　her　residence
  without　leaving　any　trace　behind　her；　and　without　even　mentioning
  an　address　to　which　her　letters　could　be　forwarded；　was　a
  circumstance　in　itself　sufficiently　suspicious　to　be　mentioned　to
  the　major。　But　Mrs。　Milroy；　however　perverted　her　estimate　of　her
  husband　might　be　in　some　respects；　knew　enough　of　his　character
  to　be　assured　that；　if　she　told　him　what　had　happened；　he　would
  frankly　appeal　to　the　governess　herself　for　an　explanation。　Miss
  Gwilt's　quickness　and　cunning　would；　in　that　case；　produce　some
  plausible　answer　on　the　spot；　which　the　major's　partiality　would
  be　only　too　ready　to　accept；　and　she　would　at　the　same　time；　no
  doubt；　place　matters　in　train；　by　means　of　the　post；　for　the　due
  arrival　of　all　needful　confirmation　on　the　part　of　her　accomplice
  in　London。　To　keep　strict　silence　for　the　present；　and　to
  institute　（without　the　governess's　knowledge）　such　inquiries　as
  might　be　necessary　to　the　discovery　of　undeniable　evidence；　was
  plainly　the　only　safe　course　to　take　with　such　a　man　as　the
  major；　and　with　such　a　woman　as　Miss　Gwilt。　Helpless　herself；　to
  whom　could　Mrs。　Milroy　commit　the　difficult　and　dangerous　task　of
  investigation？　The　nurse；　even　if　she　was　to　be　trusted；　could
  not　be　spared　at　a　day's　notice；　and　could　not　be　sent　away
  without　the　risk　of　exciting　remark。　Was　there　any　other
  competent　and　reliable　person　to　employ；　either　at　Thorpe　Ambrose
  or　in　London？　Mrs。　Milroy　turned　from　side　to　side　of　the　bed；
  searching　every　corner　of　her　mind　for　the　needful　discovery；　And
  searching　in　vain。　〃Oh；　if　I　could　only　lay　my　hand　on　some　man　I
  could　trust！〃　she　thought；　despairingly。　〃If　I　only　knew　where　to
  look　for　somebody　to　help　me！〃
  As　the　idea　passed　through　her　mind；　the　sound　of　her　daughter's
  voice　startled　her　from　the　other　side　of　the　door。
  〃May　I　come　in？〃　asked　Neelie。
  〃What　do　you　want？〃　returned　Mrs。　Milroy；　impatiently。
  〃I　have　brought　up　your　breakfast；　mamma。〃
  〃My　breakfast？〃　repeated　Mrs。　Milroy；　in　surprise。　〃Why　doesn't
  Rachel　bring　it　up　as　usual？〃　She　considered　a　moment；　and　then
  called　out；　sharply；　〃Come　in！〃
  CHAPTER　II。
  THE　MAN　IS　FOUND。
  NEELIE　entered　the　room；　carrying　the　tray　with　the　tea；　the　dry
  toast；　and　the　pat　of　butter　which　composed　the　invalid's
  invariable　breakfast。
  〃What　does　this　mean？〃　asked　Mrs。　Milroy；　speaking　and　looking　as
  she　might　have　spoken　and　looked　if　the　wrong　servant　had　come
  into　the　room。
  Neelie　put　the　tray　down　on　the　bedside　table。　〃I　thought　I
  should　like　to　bring　you　up　your　breakfast；　mamma；　for　once　in　a
  way；〃　she　replied；　〃and　I　asked　Rachel　to　let　me。〃
  〃Come　here；〃　said　Mrs。　Milroy；　〃and　wish　me　good…morning。〃
  Neelie　obeyed。　As　she　stooped　to　kiss　her　mother；　Mrs。　Milroy
  caught　her　by　the　arm；　and　turned　her　roughly　to　the　light。　There
  were　plain　signs　of　disturbance　and　distress　in　her　daughter's
  face。　A　deadly　thrill　of　terror　ran　through　Mrs。　Milroy　on　the
  instant。　She　suspected　that　the　opening　of　the　letter　had　been
  discovered　by　Miss　Gwilt；　and　that　the　nurse　was　keeping　out　of
  the　way　in　consequence。
  〃Let　me　go；　mamma；〃　said　Neelie；　shrinking　under　her　mother's
  grasp。　〃You　hurt　me。〃
  〃Tell　me　why　you　have　brought　up　my　breakfast　this　morning；〃