The doubt which had prompted her fruitless suggestions to Carmina, when they were alone in the young girl's room--the doubt whether a clue to the discovery of Mrs.Gallilee's motives might not be found, in that latter part of the Will which she had failed to overhear--was as present as ever in the governess's mind.

"The learned lady is not infallible," she thought as she entered Mrs.Gallilee's room.

"If one unwary word trips over her tongue, I shall pick it up!" Mrs.Gallilee's manner was encouraging at the outset.

She had left her writing-table; and she now presented herself, reclining in an easy chair, weary and discouraged--the picture of a woman in want of a helpful friend.
"My head aches with adding up figures, and writing letters," she said.
"I wish you would finish my correspondence for me." Miss Minerva took her place at the desk.

She at once discovered the unfinished correspondence to be a false pretence.