SIRPATRICKmadeabadbreakfast。Blanche’sabsencefrettedhim，andAnneSilvester’sletterpuzzledhim。
Hereadit，shortasitwas，asecondtime，andathird。Ifitmeantanything，itmeantthatthemotiveatthebottomofAnne’sflightwastoaccomplishthesacrificeofherselftothehappinessofBlanche。Shehadpartedforlifefromhisnieceforhisniece’ssake!Whatdidthismean？AndhowwasittobereconciledwithAnne’sposition——asdescribedtohimbyMrs。
InchbareduringhisvisittoCraigFernie？
AllSirPatrick’singenuity，andallSirPatrick’sexperience，failedtofindsomuchastheshadowofananswertothatquestion。
Whilehewasstillponderingovertheletter，Arnoldandthesurgeonenteredthebreakfast-roomtogether。