ut he had determined
long since that he would not interrupt the witness in her relation. The
air of patience he assumed was sufficiently indicative of his
displeasure, and he confined himself to this. Mr. Moffat understood, and
testified his appreciation by a slight bow.

Carmel, who saw nothing, resumed her story.

"Arthur's room is near, and Adelaide's far off; but I went to Adelaide's
first. Her door was shut and when I went to open it I found it locked.
Calling her name, I said that I was tired and would be glad to say good
night. She did not answer at once. When she did, her voice was strange,
though what she said was very simple. I was to please myself; she was
going to retire, too. And then she tried to say good night, but she only
half said it, like one who is choked with tears or some other dreadful
emotion. I cannot tell you how this made me feel--but you don't care for
that. You want to know what I did--what Adelaide did. I will tell you,
but I cannot hurry. Every act of the evening was so crowded with purpose;
all meant so much. I can see the end, but the steps leading to it are not
so clear."

"Take your time, Miss Cumberland; we have no wish to hurry you."

"I can go on now. The next thing I did was to knock at Arthur's door. I
heard him getting ready to go out, and I wanted to speak to him before
he went. When he heard me, he opened the door and let me in. He began at
once on his grievances, but I could not listen to them. I wanted him to
harness the grey mare for me and leave it standing in the stable. I
explained the request by saying that it was necessary for me to see a
certain friend of mine immediately, and that no one would notice me in
the cutter under the bear-skins. He didn't approve, but I persuaded him.
I even persuaded him to wait till Zadok was gone, so that Adelaide would
know nothing about it. He looked glum, but he promised.

"He was going away when I heard Adelaide's steps in the adjoining room.
This frightened me. The partition is very thin between these two rooms,
and I was afraid she had heard me ask Arthur for the grey mare and
cutter. I could hear her rattling the bottles in the medicine cabinet
hanging on this very wall. Looking back at Arthur, I asked him how long
Adelaide had been there. He said, 'For some time.' This sent me flying
from the room. I would join her, and find out if she had heard. But I
was too late. As I stepped into the hall I saw her disappearing round
the