h, and then a knock at the door. Paul Stepaside's mother sat rigid.
She seemed like one afraid; yet there was a bright light in her eyes
all the time.

"Run, my lassie," she said quickly. "Run. Don't wait for one of the
maids to go, perhaps it will be----"

But Mary did not hear the end of her sentence. She ran to the door,
and opened it, and both mother and son heard whispering voices in the
little hall.

A few seconds later Mary returned again, accompanied by Judge Bolitho.
He looked from one face to another, as if uncertain of his welcome. He
had evidently come from a long journey, for he looked travel-stained
and weary, but each noticed how eager his face was. Paul's mother sat
rigidly in her chair. She gave no word of welcome, no sign of
recognition. It seemed as though the presence of the judge had placed
the seal of silence upon her lips. Paul rose and held out his hand.

"No," said the judge. "I will not take your hand."

Paul looked at him in astonishment. It seemed strange to him, after
what had passed at their last meeting, for him to act in this way.

"I will not take your hand, Paul, until I have told my story, until you
have heard all there is for me to say," said the judge.

CHAPTER XXXIV

JUDGE BOLITHO'S CONFESSION

As Judge Bolitho spoke, Paul saw that his mother drew herself up in her
chair and fixed her eyes upon the newcomer with a look of feverish
inquiry. No word had passed between them about the past ever since his
return home. Never once had she mentioned an incident of her girlhood,
neither had she spoken to Paul about the judge's confession, or what it
had meant to them both. The servants still spoke to her as "Mrs.
Stepaside," even as they spoke of Paul as Paul Stepaside. There seemed
something strange in their relations to the judge even yet. There was
still, however, that look of continual watchfulness and inquiry in her
eyes. It seemed as though she were waiting for something, something of
which she dared not speak.

"I feel as though I had no right to sit here," went on the judge, "no
right to a welcome of any sort until I have told the truth. When I
have spoken you may drive me from your doors, but at least what there
is to be made known shall be told truthfully."

No one spoke, but it was easy to see that all were greatly moved. Mary
Bolitho, although she had not spoken a word concerning the story of her
past, even to Paul, waited with intense eagern