ntments calculated to attract attention, her heart was smitten
with disgust? She was to be stared at; and, during all the drive, she
was to sit face to face with a man who believed that he had fascinated
her, and who was trying to use her for all the base purposes in which it
was possible for her to serve his will. What could she do with him? How,
in the new relations of her life to him, should she carry herself?

The drive was a quiet one. Mr. Belcher sat and feasted his greedy,
exultant eyes on the woman before him, and marveled at the adroitness
with which, to use his own coarse phrase, she "pulled the wool" over the
eyes of his wife. In what a lovely way did she hide her passion for him!
How sweetly did she draw out the sympathy of the deceived woman at her
side! Ah! he could trust her! Her changed, amiable, almost pathetic
demeanor was attributed by him to the effect of his power upon her, and
her own subtle ingenuity in shielding from the eyes of Mrs. Belcher a
love that she deemed hopeless. In his own mind it was not hopeless. In
his own determination, it should not be!

As for Mrs. Belcher, she had never so much enjoyed Mrs. Dillingham's
society before. She blamed herself for not having understood her better;
and when she parted with her for the day, she expressed in hearty terms
her wish that she might see more of her in the future.

Mrs. Dillingham, on the return, was dropped at her own door first. Mr.
Belcher alighted, and led her up the steps. Then, in a quiet voice, he
said:

"Did you find out anything of the boy?"

"Yes, some things, but none that it would be of advantage to you to
know."

"Well, stick to him, now that you have got hold of him."

"I intend to."

"Good for you!"

"I imagine that he has been pretty well drilled," said Mrs. Dillingham,
"and told just what he may and must not say to any one."

"You can work it out of him. I'll risk you."

Mrs. Dillingham could hardly restrain her impatience, but said quietly:

"I fancy I have discovered all the secrets I shall ever discover in him.
I like the boy, and shall cultivate his acquaintance; but, really, it
will not pay you to rely upon me for anything. He is under Mr. Balfour's
directions, and very loyal."

Mr. Belcher remembered his own interview with the lad, and recognized
the truth of the statement. Then he bade her good-bye, rejoined his
wife, and rode home.

CHAPTER XIX.

IN WHICH MR. BELCHER BECOMES PRESIDENT OF THE C