e in the house
concealed from those of my acquaintances who called. There are always a
certain number of people who do not hear one is in town until after one
has left. It was against such that I needed to take precautions; and
after the impression was duly established that I was really gone, I
breathed freely once more, and gave myself up to my business with little
concern as to the discovery of my innocent deceit. I had to frame such
replies to Aunt Helen's letters and questions as the sensitiveness of my
conscience would permit.

Mr. Prime, in his effort to build up his business, was evidently most
diligent and painstaking, and, as I had observed during my early
investigations, usually stayed at the office until late. Of course I
never left before him, and perhaps it was not unnatural that after a
time we got into the way of walking up-town together. One day he
happened to come back for something just as I was setting out, and he
walked along by my side. Our ways lay in the same direction, and it was
the habit of each of us to walk home for the sake of the exercise. It
seemed to me in no way dangerous or unfitting that I should be otherwise
than at ease in my conversation with Mr. Prime; indeed, I was soon
conscious of a desire to mystify him by giving him a glimpse of my
acquirements. I branched off from the current events of the day to
poetry and art, and to my gratification I found that I had touched a
sympathetic chord in my companion, which not even wonder could restrain
from responding. After this it became Mr. Prime's wont to wait for me
occasionally, and by the time I had been in his employ six weeks, this
became his daily practice. Our intimacy was a curious one, for of course
we avoided all personal and social topics,--I from necessity, and he
doubtless because of the difference in our positions which he supposed
to exist. But on this very account I got a truer impression of his real
self, for he did not feel the hamper of conventions in our talk, and
hence was not affected. He said freely what he thought and believed; and
underneath the tendency to regard everything in a mezzo-cynical,
mezzo-humorous light there cropped out from time to time evidences of
his earnestness and enthusiasm, which as our friendship strengthened
were less and less subordinated to raillery and chaff. Not a whit
inferior in cultivation to myself, he possessed besides a keen analytic
sense which I envied, especially as I felt that i