little courage she has left."

"I can not promise that. I believe that she will wish to receive me and
hear all I have to say after seeing what that envelope contains. That is
as far as I can honestly go."

"It does not satisfy me. If it were not for the nearness of Mr.
Ocumpaugh's return, I would have nothing to do with it. He must hear at
Sandy Hook that some definite news has been received of his child."

"You are right, Miss Porter, he must."

"He idolized Gwendolen. He is a man of strong feelings; very passionate
and much given to follow the impulse of the moment. If his suspense is
not ended at the earliest possible instant, the results may be such as I
dare not contemplate."

"I know it; that is why I have pushed matters to this point. You will
carry that up to her?"

"Yes; and if--"

"No ifs. Lay it before her where she sits and come away. But not beyond
call. You are a good woman--I see it in your face--do not watch her as
she unfolds this paper. Persons of her temperament do not like to have
their emotions observed, and this will cause her emotion. That can not
be helped, Miss Porter. Sincerely and honestly I tell you that it is
impossible for her best friends to keep her from suffering now; they can
only strive to keep that suffering from becoming permanent."

"It is a hard task you have set me," complained the poor woman; "but I
will do what I can. Anything must be better for Mrs. Ocumpaugh than the
suspense she is now laboring under."

"Remember," I enjoined, with the full force of my secret anxiety, "that
no eye but hers must fall upon this drawing. Not that it would convey
meaning to anybody but herself, but because it is her affair and her
affair only, and you are the woman to respect another person's affairs."

She gave me a final scrutinizing look and left the room.

"God grant that I have made no mistake!" was the inward prayer with
which I saw her depart.

My fervency was sincere. I was myself frightened at what I had done.

And what had I done? Sent her a sketch drawn by myself of Doctor Pool
and of his office. If it recalled to her, as I felt it must, the
remembrance of a certain memorable visit she had once paid there, she
would receive me.

When Miss Porter reentered some fifteen minutes later, I saw that my
hazardous attempt had been successful.

"Come," said she; but with no cheerful alacrity, rather with an air of
gloom.

"Was--was Mrs. Ocumpaugh very much disturbed by what