parted by a strong, white hand, and Jack Garner
stood on the threshold.

Ah! how changed he was in those few short months! The boyish expression
had vanished. He looked older, more care-worn. The fair, handsome face
was graver; the blue eyes were surely more thoughtful. Even his fair
chestnut hair seemed to have taken on a deeper, more golden hue.

He crossed the room, bent over his mother, and kissed her.

"This is my son--Mrs. Brown, Mr. Garner," said the old lady, her voice
lingering over the words with pardonable pride.

It was a terrible moment for Dorothy.

Would Jack know her? Would not those keen, grave, searching eyes
penetrate her disguise?

He gave but a casual glance to the small, slim figure clad in black, and
bowed courteously, then turned away.

The greatest ordeal of her life was past.

She had met Jack--Jack who had loved her so--face to face, and he had
not recognized her.

She rallied from her confused thoughts by a great effort, for Mrs.
Garner was speaking to her.

"I was saying, that as we seem mutually pleased with each other, we may
as well consider the arrangement as settled between us."

Dorothy bowed. She could not utter a word in protest to save her life,
although she had quite made up her mind not to remain under that roof.

"Your duties will be light, and I feel sure you will find ours a
pleasant home. I will ring for one of the servants to show you to your
room;" and suiting the action to the word, she touched the bell, and an
instant later a neat little maid appeared, who courtesied and asked
Dorothy to follow her.

"Madame will find her little child has already been taken to her
apartments," said the girl, opening the door at the further end of the
upper corridor.

Yes, little Pearl was there, cooing with delight at her new
surroundings, and over the cup of hot milk and crackers on the little
stand close beside her.

The girl rose hastily as Dorothy entered, set down the child, and
quitted the apartment.

Upon finding herself alone with Pearl, Dorothy snatched the child up in
her arms, sank down in the depths of a great easy-chair, and sobbed as
though her heart would break.

"Oh, little Pearl! how I wish that we had never come here!" she moaned.
"It makes me feel so sad."

The baby's blue eyes looked up into her own in wonder, but her soft
cooing and the clasp of her little soft, warm fingers could not comfort
Dorothy.

After luncheon she was called into Mrs. G