"
He rode away, and Winston went back into the house very thoughtfully,
wondering whether he would be called upon to answer for more of
Courthorne's doings.
It was two or three days later when Maud Barrington returned with her
aunt from a visit to an outlying farm, where, because an account of
what took place in the saloon had by some means been spread about, she
heard a story brought in from the settlement. It kept her silent
during the return journey, and Miss Barrington said nothing, but when
the Colonel met them in the hall, he glanced at his niece.
"I see Mrs. Carndall has been telling you both a tale," he said. "It
would have been more fitting if she had kept it to herself."
"Yes," said Maud Barrington. "Still, you do not credit it?"
Barrington smiled a trifle dryly. "I should very much prefer not to,
my dear, but what we saw the other night appears to give it
probability. The man Courthorne was dismissing somewhat summarily is,
I believe, to marry the lady in question. You will remember I asked
you once before whether the leopard can change his spots."
The girl laughed a little. "Still, are you not presuming when you take
it for granted that there are spots to change?"
Colonel Barrington said nothing further, and it was late that night
when the two women reopened the subject.
"Aunt," said Maud Barrington, "I want to know what you think about Mrs.
Carndall's tale."
The little lady shook her head. "I should like to disbelieve it if I
could.
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