te secrets!" she said. "How I
have always hated them! I want everything right out, and here I seem to
be in a perfect snarl of secrets! I wonder how long I shall have to stay
in the house."

"Perhaps you are wrong, and your uncle will take measures now this has
happened for the second time," said James.

"No, he won't," replied the girl hopelessly. "I am almost sure that he
will not."

Clemency was right. After she had made her entry and told her little lie
successfully, and explained that she had taken some brandy because she
was chilled, and Mrs. Ewing had gently scolded her for staying so late,
and kissed and embraced her, and gotten back her own composure, Doctor
Gordon arrived, and James, who had waited for him in the study, told him
the story in whispers. "Now I think you had better let me get a posse of
men and scour the country to-morrow," he concluded. "It seems to me
that this thing has gone far enough."

Doctor Gordon sat huddled up before him in an arm-chair. He had not even
taken off his overcoat, which was white with snow. The storm had begun.
"It will be easy to track him on account of the snow," added James.

"Tracking is not necessary," replied Gordon, with his haggard face fixed
upon James. "I know exactly where the man is, and have known from the
first."

"Then--" began James.

"You don't know what you are talking about," Gordon said gloomily. "I
would have that fiend arrested to-morrow. I would have him hung from the
nearest tree if I had my way, but I can do absolutely nothing."

"Nothing?"

"No, I can do nothing, except what I have been doing, so far in vain, it
seems, to try to tire him out. I traded too much on his impatience, it
seemed. I did not think he would have held out so long."

"You mean you will have to keep that poor little thing shut up the way
you have been doing?"

"I see no other way. God knows I have tried to think of another, day and
night."

"I don't see why you or I could not take her out sometimes when we
visit patients anyway," said James in a bewildered fashion.

"You don't understand," replied Doctor Gordon irritably. "The main point
is: the girl must not be even seen by that man. That is the trouble.
Driving, she might be perfectly safe; in fact, in one way she is safe
anyhow. She is not in any danger of bodily harm, as you may think, but I
don't want her seen."

"Why not let me take her out sometimes of an evening then?" said James,
more and more mystif