expression of apprehension on
her face had increased. She was still gazing at her husband as one shut
up in a room with a snake might gaze at it, waiting for it to strike.

"Ella didn't tell you that I was coming?" said he. "She had the best of
reasons for her reticence."

"Ah!"

The sound came from Ella. There was a little scornful smile on her face.

"The best of reasons?" said Phyllis interrogatively.

"The very best; she had no idea that I was coming. I wonder if she is
glad to see me. She has not spoken a word to me yet."

"You have startled her by your sudden appearance," said Phyllis. "She is
not certain whether you are flesh and blood or a ghost."

Then Ella gave a laugh.

"Oh, yes!" she said. "He is my husband. Go on with what you have to say,
Stephen. I will not run away."

"Run away? What nonsense is this, my dear? Run away? Who said anything
about your running away?"

Her husband had advanced to her as he spoke. He put a hand caressingly
on one of her bare arms and the other at the back of her head. She
suffered him to press her head forward until he put his lips upon her
forehead.

When he had released her, and had taken a step back from her,--he seemed
abut to address Phyllis,--a little cry forced itself from her. She
called his name twice,--the second time louder,--and threw herself into
his arms, burying her face on his shoulder, as she had buried it on
Phyllis' shoulder.

In a few moments, however, she looked up. Her husband was patting her on
the arm. She had acquired two new gems since she had bent her head. They
were shining in her eyes.

"Don't go away, Phyllis dear," she said. Phyllis and her father were
standing at the _portiere_ between the drawing rooms. Mr. Ayrton had a
hand at the embroidered edge in the act of raising it. "Don't go away.
I am all right now. I was quite dazed at Stephen's sudden appearance. I
thought that perhaps he had--had----Ah, I scarcely know what I thought.
How did you come here--why did you come here?"

She had turned to her husband. In spite of her manifestation of
affection,--the result of a certain relief which she experienced at that
moment,--there was a note of something akin to indignation in her voice.

"It is very simple, my dear," replied her husband. His curiously sallow
face had resumed its usual expressionless appearance. "Nothing could be
more simple. I got a telegram at Paris regarding the mine, and I had to
start at a moment's notice. I