"When you force this ridiculous and regrettable affair on my attention" (I think I hear Mrs. Sarrazin say), "the least you can do is to make your narrative complete. But perhaps you propose to tell me personally what has become of Kitty, and what well-deserved retribution has overtaken Miss Westerfield."
       No: I propose in this case also to communicate my information in writing--at the safe distance from home of Lincoln's Inn Fields.
       Kitty accompanies her father and mother to the Continent, of course. But she insisted on first saying good-by to the dear friend, once the dear governess, whom she loves. Randal and I volunteered to take her (with her mother's ready permission) to see Miss Westerfield. Try not to be angry. Try not to tear me up.
       We found Captain Bennydeck and his pretty secretary enjoying a little rest and refreshment, after a long morning's work for the good of the Home. The Captain was carving the chicken; and Sydney, by his side, was making the salad. The house-cat occupied a third chair, with her eyes immovably fixed on the movements of the knife and fork. Perhaps I was thinking of sad past days. Anyway, it seemed to me to be as pretty a domestic scene as a man could wish to look at. The arrival of Kitty made the picture complete.
       Our visit was necessarily limited by a due remembrance of the hour of departure, by an early tidal tram. Kitty's last words to Sydney bade her bear their next meeting in mind, and not be melancholy at only saying good-by for a time. Like all children, she asks strange questions. When we were out in the street again, she said to her uncle: "Do you think my nice Captain will marry Syd?"
       Randal had noticed, in Captain Bennydeck's face, signs which betrayed that the bitterest disappointment of his life was far from being a forgotten disappointment yet. If it had been put by any other person, poor Kitty's absurd question might have met with a bitter reply. As it was, her uncle only said: "My dear child, that is no business of yours or mine."
       Not in the least discouraged, Kitty turned to me. "What do you think, Samuel?"
       I followed Randal's lead, and answered, "How should I know?"
       The child looked from one to the other of us. "Shall I tell you what I think?" she said, "I think you are both of you humbugs."

before the story. miss westerfield's education
   1.--The Trial.
   2.--The Sentence.
   3.--The Letter.
   4.--The Garret.
   5.--The Landlord.
   6.--The Brute.
   7.--The Cipher.
   8.--The Diamonds.
   9.--The Mother.
   10.--The School.
first book.
   Chapter I. Mrs. Presty Presents Herself.
   Chapter II. The Governess Enters.
   Chapter III. Mrs. Presty Changes Her Mind.
   Chapter IV. Randal Receives His Correspondence.
   Chapter V. Randal Writes to New York.
   Chapter VI. Sydney Teaches.
   Chapter VII. Sydney Suffers.
   Chapter VIII. Mrs. Presty Makes a Discovery.
   Chapter IX. Somebody Attends to the Door.
   Chapter X. Kitty Mentions Her Birthday.
   Chapter XI. Linley Asserts His Authority.
   Chapter XII. Two of Them Sleep Badly.
   Chapter XIII. Kitty Keeps Her Birthday.
   Chapter XIV. Kitty Feels the Heartache.
second book.
   Chapter XV. The Doctor.
   Chapter XVI. The Child.
   Chapter XVII. The Husband.
   Chapter XVIII. The Nursemaid.
   Chapter XIX. The Captain.
   Chapter XX. The Mother-in-Law.
   Chapter XXI. The Governess.
third book.
   Chapter XXII. Retrospect.
   Chapter XXIII. Separation.
   Chapter XXIV. Hostility.
   Chapter XXV. Consultation.
   Chapter XXVI. Decision.
   Chapter XXVII. Resolution.
fourth book.
   Chapter XXVIII. Mr. Randal Linley.
   Chapter XXIX. Mr. Sarrazin.
   Chapter XXX. The Lord President.
   Chapter XXXI. Mr. Herbert Linley.
   Chapter XXXII. Miss Westerfield.
   Chapter XXXIII. Mrs. Romsey.
   Chapter XXXIV. Mrs. Presty.
   Chapter XXXV. Captain Bennydeck.
   Chapter XXXVI. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert.
   Chapter XXXVII. Mrs. Norman.
fifth book.
   Chapter XXXVIII. Hear the Lawyer.
   Chapter XXXIX. Listen to Reason.
   Chapter XL. Keep Your Temper.
   Chapter XLI. Make the Best of It.
   Chapter XLII. Try to Excuse Her.
   Chapter XLIII. Know Your Own Mind.
   Chapter XLIV. Think of Consequences.
   Chapter XLV. Love Your Enemies.
   Chapter XLVI. Nil Desperandum.
   Chapter XLVII. Better Do It Than Wish It Done.
   Chapter XLVIII. Be Careful!
   Chapter XLIX. Keep the Secret.
   Chapter L. Forgiveness to the Injured Doth Belong.
   Chapter LI. Dum Spiro, Spero.
   Chapter LII. L'homme propose, et Dieu dispose.
   Chapter LIII. The Largest Nature, the Longest Love.
   Chapter LIV. Let Bygones Be Bygones.
   Chapter LV. Leave It to the Child.
after the story
   1.--The Lawyer's Apology.
   2.--The Lawyer's Defense.
   3.--The Lawyer's Last Word.