clenched hand after her with a gesture of menace, then tossed up the old book and caught it with an exclamation of delight, as he reopened it at the worn page and reread the inexplicable verse. 

 "Another proof, another proof! The work goes bravely on, Father Cosmo; and boy as I am, I'll keep my word in spite of everything," he muttered. 

 "What is that you'll keep, lad?" said a voice behind him. 

 "I'll keep my word to my lady, and do my best to restore this book, Mrs. Hester," he answered, quickly recovering himself. 

 "Ah, that's the last book poor Master read. I hid it away, but my lady found it in spite of me," said Hester, with a doleful sigh. 

 "Did he die suddenly, then?" asked the boy. 

 "Dear heart, yes; I found him dying in this room with the ink scarce dry on the letter he left for my lady. A mysterious business and a sad one." 

 "Tell me about it. I like sad stories, and I already feel as if I belonged to the family, a loyal retainer as in the old times. While you dust the books and I rub the mold off this old cover, tell me the tale, please, Mrs. Hester." 

 She shook her head, but yielded to the persuasive look and tone of the boy, telling the story more fully than she intended, for she loved talking and had come to regard Paul as her own, almost. 

 "And the letter? What was in it?" asked the boy, as she paused at the catastrophe. 

 "No one ever knew but my lady." 

 "She destroyed it, then?" 

 "I thought so, till a long time afterward, one of the lawyers came pestering me with questions, and made me ask her. She was ill at the time, but answered with a look I shall never forget, 'No, it's not burnt, but no one shall ever see it.' I dared ask no more, but I fancy she has it safe somewhere and if it's ever needed she'll bring it out. It was only some private matters, I fancy." 

 "And the stranger?" 

 "Oh, he vanished as oddly as he came, and has never been found. A strange story, lad. Keep silent, and let it rest." 

 "No fear of my 

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