ituated?"

"At the head of the stairs."

"That is not her room. Go on."

"Not her room? Then it _was_ the fire she was after!" he cried, clapping
himself on the knee.

"The fire?"

"Excuse me; I am ahead of my story. She did not appear to notice me
much, though I was right behind her. It was not until she had reached
the door of this room--which was not her room!" he interpolated
dramatically, "and turned to dismiss her servants, that she seemed
conscious of having been followed. Eying me then with an air of
great dignity, quickly eclipsed, however, by an expression of patient
endurance, she walked in, leaving the door open behind her in a
courteous way I cannot sufficiently commend."

I could not help frowning. Honest as the man appeared, this was
evidently anything but a sore subject with him. Observing me frown, he
softened his manner.

"Not seeing any other way of keeping her under my eye, except by
entering the room, I followed her in, and took a seat in a remote
corner. She flashed one look at me as I did so, and commenced pacing the
floor in a restless kind of way I'm not altogether unused to. At last
she stopped abruptly, right in the middle of the room. 'Get me a glass
of water!' she gasped; 'I'm faint again--quick! on the stand in the
corner.' Now in order to get that glass of water it was necessary for me
to pass behind a dressing mirror that reached almost to the ceiling;
and I naturally hesitated. But she turned and looked at me, and--Well,
gentlemen, I think either of you would have hastened to do what she
asked; or at least"--with a doubtful look at Mr. Gryce--"have given
your two ears for the privilege, even if you didn't succumb to the
temptation."

"Well, well!" exclaimed Mr. Gryce, impatiently.

"I am going on," said he. "I stepped cut of sight, then, for a moment;
but it seemed long enough for her purpose; for when I emerged, glass in
hand, she was kneeling at the grate full five feet from the spot where
she had been standing, and was fumbling with the waist of her dress in
a way to convince me she had something concealed there which she was
anxious to dispose of. I eyed her pretty closely as I handed her the
glass of water, but she was gazing into the grate, and didn't appear to
notice. Drinking barely a drop, she gave it back, and in another moment
was holding out her hands over the fire. 'Oh, I am so cold!' she cried,
'so cold.' And I verily believe she was. At any rate, she shivered m