and Mrs. Vanstone so suddenly
from home and the "family matter" associated with the name of Captain
Wragge. Miss Garth's doubts thronged back irresistibly on her mind as
she sealed her letter to Mrs. Vanstone, with the captain's card added by
way of inclosure.
By return of post the answer arrived.
Always the earliest riser among the ladies of the house, Miss Garth was
alo ne in the breakfast-room when the letter was brought in. Her first
glance at its contents convinced her of the necessity of reading it
carefully through in retirement, before any embarrassing questions could
be put to her. Leaving a message with the servant requesting Norah to
make the tea that morning, she went upstairs at once to the solitude and
security of her own room.
Mrs. Vanstone's letter extended to some length. The first part of it
referred to Captain Wragge, and entered unreservedly into all necessary
explanations relating to the man himself and to the motive which had
brought him to Combe-Raven.
It appeared from Mrs. Vanstone's statement that her mother had been
twice married. Her mother's first husband had been a certain Doctor
Wragge--a widower with young children; and one of those children was
now the unmilitary-looking captain, whose address was "Post-office,
Bristol.
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