ou are aware," she said, in a hard, icy voice--oh so unlike the
sweet tones of only yesterday--"what Father Francis came here
yesterday to say. You and my father might have told me sooner; but
I blame nobody. What I want to say is this: From this hour I never
wish to hear from anyone the slightest allusion to the past; I
never want to hear the names of those who are gone. I desire you to
tell this to my father and sister. Your influence over them is
greater than mine."

I bowed assent without looking up; I could feel the icy stare with
which she was regarding me, without lifting my eyes.

"Father Francis mentioned a letter that R----"; she hesitated for a
moment, and finally said--"that she sent you. Will you let me see
it?"

That cruel, heartless, insulting letter! I looked up imploringly,
with clasped hands.

"Pray don't," I said. "Oh, pray don't ask me! It is unworthy of
notice--it will only hurt you more deeply still."

She held out her hand steadily.

"Will you let me see it?"

What could I do? I took the letter from my pocket, bitterly
regretting that I had not destroyed it, and handed it to her.

"Thank you."

She walked to the window, and with her back to me read it
through--read it more than once, I should judge, by the length of
time it took her. When she faced me again, there was no sign of
change in her face.

"Is this letter of any use to you? Do you want it?"

"No! I only wish I had destroyed it long ago!"

"Then, with your permission, I will keep it."

"You!" I cried in consternation. "What can you want with that?"

A strange sort of look passed across her face, darkening it, and
she held it tightly in her grasp.

"I want to keep it for a very good reason," she said, between her
teeth; "if I ever forget the good turn Rose Danton has done me,
this letter will serve to remind me of it."

I was so frightened by her look, and tone, and words, that I could
not speak. She saw it, and grew composed again instantly.

"I need not detain you any longer," she said, looking at her watch.
"I have no more to say. You can tell my father and sister what I
have told you. I will go down to breakfast, and I am much obliged
to you."

She turned from me and went back to the window. I left the room