Evening star., 1925-03-01
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ofJane Smith B, ,.rsen m L. We .s.sro..s

just like being in a dream
Raymond Heritage seemed to tower
| before her in her white dress. Her
uncovered head almost touched the
low beam above the door
Jeffrey said you We're blind with
fright-that you ran right into MIN.
He said you were as white as
sheet and shaking all over. l want
to know what frightened you"
"A stone--it fell into the sea
What made 1t fall? A man? What
man."
| Jane leaned against the door post,
her breath coming and going, her
eyes held by those impervious eyes,
"A stone" she said; 1T fell ran
away"
Miss Molloy," said Lady Heritage.
you walked to the end of the head
| land, out of sight of the house.
| Whilst you were there something
gave you a serious fright. Something
or somebody. This is all nonsense
about a stone, Whom did you see on
the headland, for you certainly saw
somebody? No. don't look away; I
| want you to look at me. please"
II don't know why l was so fright
ened," said Jane. 1T just came over
me-
Lady Heritage looked at her
gravely.
IF you saw any stranger on the
headland, 1t is your absolute duty to
| tell me. Where secrets of such vaNve
are in question il is necessary 10
watch every avenue and to neglect
no suspicious circumstance. If yoa
are trying to screen any one, you
are acting very foolishly-very fool
ishly indeed. I warn you, and I ask
you again. What frightened your?
81 don't know" said Jane, in
little whispering voice. Why, why
do you think there was any one?"
IT don't think" said Lady Heritage
briefly. 81 know. Mr.. Ember went
up to the headland after he left you.
and there were footmarks in the
gravel. Some man had undoubtedly
been there, and you must have seen
him. Mr.. Ember made the entire
round and saw no one, but some one
had been there. Now will you tell
me what you saw?"
"Oh" said Jane. Rather to her
own astonishment she began to cry.
"Oh. that's why l was frightened
theni The stone fell so suddenly.
and l didn't know why-why--"
The sobs choked her.
Lady Heritage stood looking at her
for a moment.
Are you just an arrant little fool"
she said in low voice. Or
"oh, I'm not" sobbed Jane. "Oh.
I've never been called such thing
before. l know I'm not clever, but
l don't think you ought to call me
f-f-fool''
gether. and walked past Jane and out
into the sunshine. She stood there
for moment tapping with her foot.
Then she called rather impatiently:
Miss Molloyi Dry your eyes and
come here"
Jane came, squeezing a damp hand
kerchief into ball
Bring your flowers in: see
you've left them over there to die in
the sun. I'm driving into Withstead
this afternoon and you can come with
me. 1 have to see Mrs. Cottingham
about some university extension lec-
lures. and she telephoned just now
TO say would / bring you. She has
girl staying with her who thinks
she must have been at school with
you or one of your cousins. Her
name is Daphne Todhunter"
Jane stood perfectly still. Daphne
Todhunter? Arnold Todhunters sis
ter Daphne! Renata's friend. But
Daphne must know that Arnold was
married? The question was-whom
A'oN <hihOi0 maj leu I1dQ MS family
welcomed (by letter. Jane Smith or
Renata Molloy to its bosom? II
Ranata Molloy. how in the world was
second Ranata to be explained to
Miss Daphne Todhunter?
Miss Molloy, what's the matter
with you?" said Lady Heritage.
Jane could not think quickly
enough. Supposing Lady Heritage
went TO Mrs. Cottingham's without
her; and supposing Daphne Tod
hunter were to say that her brother
Arnold had married a girl called
Renata Molloy?
1t was too much to hope that
Arnold had carried discretion to the
point of telling his own family that
he had married an unknown Jane
Smith.
Jane suddenly threw up her chin
and squared her shoulders. The
color came back into her cheeks.
Nothing" she said, with a little
caught breath. I'm sorry I was so
silly, and for crying. and if was
rude to you. It's most awfully kind
of you to take me into Withstead."
If there were any music to be
faced, Jane was going to face it. Al
least the tune should not be called
behind her back.