gencies. And she sleeps lightly; don't forget that.
I hate to think of what she might do if she thought you meant to run
away and tell tales."

Slowly, step by step, guessing the way to the outer door, the girl
backed away from him, her face colourless with horror. Very probably he
was lying to frighten her; very possibly (she feared desperately) he was
not. What she knew of him was hardly reassuring; the innate, callous
depravity that had poisoned this man beyond cure might well have caused
the death-in-life of other souls. What he was capable of, others might
be; and what she knew him to be capable of, she hardly liked to dwell
upon. Excusably she conceived her position more than desperate; and now
her sole instinct was to get away from him, if only for a little time,
out of the foetid atmosphere of his presence, away from the envenomed
irony of his voice--away and alone, where she could recollect her
faculties and again realise her ego, that inner self that she had tried
so hard to keep stainless, unspoiled and unafraid.

He watched her as she crept inch by inch toward the door, his nervous
fingers busy about his mouth as if trying to erase that dangerous, evil
smile.

"Before you go," he said suddenly, "I should tell you that you will be
alone with Mrs. Clover tonight. I'm going to town, and Ephraim's to wait
with the boat at Pennymint Point, because I mean to return before
morning. But you needn't wait up for me; Mrs. Clover will do that."

Eleanor made no reply. While he was speaking she had gained the door. As
she stepped out, Mrs. Clover reappeared, making vigorously round the
corner of the house.

Passing Eleanor on the stoop, she gave her a busy, friendly nod, and
hurried in.

"Eph'll be up in half an hour," she heard her say. "Shall I serve your
supper now?"

"Please," he said quietly.

The girl stumbled down the steps and blindly fled the sound of his
voice.

XIV

THE STRONG-BOX

Her initial rush carried Eleanor well round the front of the building.
Then, as suddenly as she had started off, she stopped, common-sense
reasserting itself to assure her that there was nothing to be gained by
running until exhausted; her enemy was not pursuing her. It was evident
that she was to be left to her own devices as long as they did not impel
her to attempt an escape--as long as she made herself supple to his
will.

She stood for a long minute, very erect, head up and shoulders back,
eyes closed