Page:Alice Stuyvesant - The Vanity Box.djvu/139

 There s no use disguising it; Ian Hereward will have to stand some disagreeable gossip, as well as Ian Barr."

"I hope to heaven it may never reach his ears," ejaculated Terry.

"Probably that's just what Nora Verney is wishing for Ian Barr. But neither of your wishes will be granted. It's rather queer, isn't it?—in this case there are three young women, outside it, as far as they themselves are concerned, yet each trying to protect a man from being suspected. You; Nora Verney; and Milly's maid, Craigie; though, of course, those two girls may not be entirely outside the case themselves, as you are."

"What do you mean?" asked Terry.

"I hardly know. But you can never quite tell, in an awful affair like this, how evidence may turn. Craigie's testimony simply gave it away that she didn't like her mistress, though I don't suppose the woman fully realized what she was saying either about herself or that lover of hers. As for Miss Verney"

"She hasn't even given her evidence yet," broke in Terry, impelled to defend the beautiful girl who was so unhappy.

"No. But wait till they go on with the inquest. There's evidently a mystery about that adjournment. They've found out something, and have got to wait to find out something more. Which one is it going to concern, do you feel, Terry? Sir Ian Hereward;