All that I could do to prepare you, I have done.

Let me now tell the truth in the plainest and fewest words.

When Mr.and Mrs.Vanstone left Combe-Raven, in the March of the present year--" Before he could complete the sentence, a sudden movement of Miss Garth's interrupted him.

She started violently, and looked round toward the window.

"Only the wind among the leaves," she said, faintly.