Mrs. Force was so taken by surprise at this speech that she had to pause before replying:

"I thank you very much, but I should not like to trouble you."

"Trouble! Why, you precious ninny, it would be the greatest of pleasure to me. Ain't I making myself at home here? Same as one of you? Go along with you! Get me something to do!"

"Many thanks, but I fear I cannot find anything to-day."

"I'll find something, mamma," Wynnette exclaimed, coming to the rescue.

Turning to Mrs. Anglesea, she said:

"Dear ma'am, wouldn't you like to come into the schoolroom with Miss Meeke and me and help us to tie up parcels for Christmas presents to the colored people?"

"Of course I will, if you want me to. But, Lord, that's no work!"

"Oh, yes, it is. There are more than twenty parcels, little and big. And all the stores are in large bundles, and we have got to divide them fairly, and tie them up, and write the names on them. It will take us all the morning."

"All right; I will go 'long of you, and help with the dividing and tying up. I don't know about the names. I ain't very good at writing," said the guest, allowing herself to be carried off by Wynnette.

"How in the name of the Inscrutable could Anglesea ever have been tempted to marry such a woman? Was he drunk, I wonder?" whispered Abel Force to his wife.

The lady shook her head.

"I have given it up," she replied.

Mrs. Force went upstairs, to send little Elva down to her breakfast, and to sit beside Odalite.

Mr. Force went into the little den at the back of the hall, where he kept his writing desk and account books and held interviews with his overseer or his attorney.

CHAPTER XXVII

CONFIRMATION FROM ST. SEBASTIAN

"I am going to ride over to Greenbushes this morning, sir; can I do anything for you before I go?" inquired Leonidas, entering the sanctum where the master of the house sat writing at his desk.

"My dear boy, is it absolutely necessary that you should go to Greenbushes to-day?"

"Oh, no, sir; not at all; nor will I go, if I can be of the least service to you by staying here."

"I am expecting our rector this morning. I am hoping that he will bring me some decisive news from St. Sebastian that may end this terrible suspense."

"'Suspense,' sir? Do you also think that there may be some doubt about the truth of Mrs. Anglesea's story?"

"When I look at the woman, and think of the man, I can scarcely believe her to be his wife. Why, she is illiterate and ill bred to the lowest degree!"

"I think she is infinitely above him!" indignantly exclaimed Le.

"In point of honesty, yes; for he is as despicable a miscreant as ever lived; but, still, not likely to have married such a woman. And it may be possible that there was no California marriage at all. Therefore I feel very anxious to get this telegram."

"But, sir, in case this woman who claims to be his wife has been deceived by a false marriage, and she is therefore not his wife, but his victim, and it should follow that the marriage ceremony performed yesterday should be legal----"

"It should not stand!" roared Abel Force, in sudden wrath. "It should be dissolved by law! In no case shall my daughter ever behold the face of that wretch again!"

"De Reberent Dr. Peters, sah, is waitin' to see yer," said Jake, putting his head into the door.

"Is there any one in the drawing room?"

"No, sah."

"Then show Dr. Peters into the drawing room, and tell him that I will see him there in a moment."

The man went to give his message.

Mr. Force put away his papers, locked his desk, and arose, saying:

"Come, Le; our suspense will be ended in another minute."

"I have been in painful suspense," answered the young man, as they went up the front hall, and entered the drawing room on the right hand side.

Dr. Peters arose and advanced to meet them.

"Good-morning, reverend sir; I am glad to see you. In one word, now: Have you an answer to your telegram?"

"Yes."

"And what is it?"

"The marriage certificate shown you is genuine. It corresponds in every particular with the entry of the same date in the parish register of the church of St. Sebastian where the ceremony was performed."

"Thank Heaven! then my daughter is free!" exclaimed Abel Force.

"Here is the telegram--a very lengthy but quite satisfactory one," said the rector, drawing from his pocket a large coil of what looked like white measuring tape.

Abel Force took it and read it aloud. It need not be repeated here. Enough to say that it was conclusive.

"And the scoundrel knew that he had a living wife, when he led my daughter to the altar! Reverend sir, what should a father, in his righteous wrath, do with such a man?" demanded Abel Force, livid with rage.

"Leave him to the divine Providence," reverently replied the rector.

Abel Force ground his teeth; he felt more like becoming a volunteer instrument of the vengeance of divine Providence.

"A Christian would curb his pa.s.sion and let the evildoer go his way,"

continued the rector.

"Then I am a sinner!" exclaimed Le, who had been turning red and white with every ebb and flow of emotion.