addressed Mary with a kind of tender
melancholy; Mrs. Wigley was constrained and
rather fretful, and we others falling into
their mood, the breakfast was a dull and
brief meal. Then, with the unconscious
ceremony that one uses when ill at ease, Mr.
Williams invited us into the library, and opening
a drawer, took out numerous bunches
of keys.

"' Ladies,' he said, ' you have done me the
honour of visiting me with the intention—at
least on my part—of having such alterations
made in my house and establishment as may
seem desirable to you. These keys will open
every lock in the house, and you will oblige
me by devoting this day to making such
inspection as you please. There is no key you
may not use, and no papers which you, Mary,
may not read; but you will make discoveries
that will surprise you, and perhaps influence
you against me. I shall leave home for the day,
to give you an opportunity for an investigation,
but I shall most impatiently wait your decision
on my return.'

"He was gone before any of us could
answer, and we were left gazing at one another
in profound astonishment. The atmosphere
of mystery in which we had been living was
thickening to a dense fog, and we were half
afraid to grope to the light that was offered
to us. Mary positively refused to avail
herself of Mr. Williams's absence,

"' Let us do nothing,' she said, ' and leave
it to him to explain himself when he comes
home. It is so noble and honourable in him
to act so, that I could not bear to abuse his
generosity.'

"But an intense curiosity was devouring
Mrs. Wigley and me, and human nature could
not endure such a disappointment.

"' It is your duty to yourself, my child,'
said the mother, ' to take every justifiable
means for learning Mr. Williams's character
and circumstances; he has put the means in
your power, and it is unjust to your own
common sense and to mine, not to use them.'

"'My dear Mary,' I urged, 'you certainly
should reflect that little more than a month
since none of us knew this gentleman; and
it is evidently his wish that you should
discover for yourself some secret, and spare
him the pain of a verbal explanation.'

" ' Do as you please,' replied Mary, weeping,
' but let me at least trust to his honour
and affection. There can be nothing to
conceal where there is such open frankness.'

'"We certainly shall do nothing against
your wish,' said Mrs. Wigley, crossly, ' but
I must say you are very foolish, Mary, and
you quite forget you have no father to act
for you in these affairs. It will be a very
long tiresome day with nothing in the world
to do. You are too scrupulous, or
sentimental.'

"' O mother! ' Mary answered, ' I know
you ought to be allowed to do what your
judgment dictates; so pray take the keys
and use them on my account; only do not
ask me to join you.'

"Mrs. Wigley and I rose with alacrity, and
proceeded to get the aid of the housekeeper;
how we tried keys and wearied over refractory
locks; how we turned over drawers and
long-unopened boxes which were filled with
dresses and articles of feminine adornment;
how we ransacked the china-closets and plate-
chest, and rummaged through the stores of
linen; how we went back to the library from
time to time to report progress. All the
fatigues, and labour, and excitement of that
morning I cannot describe to you. At
luncheon refreshed and strengthened, my
spirits rose to my circumstances.

"' This is quite a Blue Beard affair, Mary,'
I remarked, to my languid friend. 'Mr.
Williams has always had something of
a suspicious and ferocious aspect. I shall
not be surprised if we come upon a
closet of skeletons, or bodies of deceased
wives preserved in large bottles of spirits of
wine.'

"' Horrible,' she interrupted; ' you forget,
too, that he has left us all his keys, and not
forbidden us the use of any.'

"'There is something to be concealed,
however,' said her mother. 'He has paid his
addresses to you under an assumed name, and
that has a suspicious look.'

"' Are you sure of it, mother? ' exclaimed
Mary, her face colouring with excitement.
' How did you find it out ? '

"Mrs. Wigley then recounted to us the
discovery of the preceding day, which she had
intended to keep secret till she heard from
my husband; instead of the weeping and
hysterics I expected, Mary displayed great,
energy of character.

"' Nay then, mother,' she cried, ' it is time
for me to open my eyes; I will work with you
now.'

"So the search re-commenced with ardour,
it was no longer in linen-chests and china-
closets. We rifled desks and cabinets, and
curiously constructed drawers, of their
contents, and poured bundles upon bundles of
letters and papers into Mary's lap; we found
banking accounts and cheque-books, and
other indications of wealth; deeds and wills,
and rolls of yellow parchment tied up with
red tape; but still nothing to satisfy our
curiosity. Our labour continued unintermitting,
for the evening was drawing on, and
we began to regret the wasted minutes of the
morning. The mystery, like an ignis fatuus,
appeared to fly before us.

"At last all seemed to have been passed
under our scrutiny, and nothing was
discovered. Then Mrs. Wigley and I left Mary
to replace the documents strewn about the
library, and proceeded once again on our
explorations, with the housekeeper for a
pioneer.

"In a few minutes we stood before a