, but now spoken in a more
anguished voice. The tear's streamed from Cecily's eyes.

"You cry, like Zillah does when she tries to persuade me. I don't know
whether I had rather be pitied, or lie quite alone. But don't cry. You
shan't go away and be made miserable by thinking of me. I can bear it
all well enough; there can't be much more of it, you know. Sit down
again, if you have time. Perhaps you want to go somewhere to-night--to
see friends?"

"No. I will stay with you as long as ever you wish."

Presently the conversation ceased, and then for nearly three hours
Cecily listened to the sound of breathing. At length the door softly
opened, and Zillah came in. She was distressed; it had struck twelve
long since, and only now had she awoke from sleep. Cecily entreated her
to go and sleep again; she herself had no desire to close her eyes.

"But what will Mr. Elgar think has become of you?"

"He is not at home to-night. Let me have my way, there's a good girl."

Zillah, whose eyelids could scarcely be supported, at length went back
to her room. Madeline still slept, with unusual calmness. The vigil was
resumed, and nothing again disturbed it until white dawn began to
glimmer at the windows.

Then Madeline awoke with a sudden loud cry of anguish. Cecily, aroused
from slumber which was just beginning, sprang up and spoke to her. But
the cry seemed to have been the end of her power of utterance; she
moved her lips and looked up fearfully. Cecily hastened to summon
Zillah.

CHAPTER XIV

SUGGESTION AND ASSURANCE

When Miriam went out by herself to walk, either going or returning she
took the road in which was Mallard's studio. She kept on the side
opposite the gateway, and, in passing, seemed to have no particular
interest in anything at hand. A model who one day came out of the gate,
and made inspection of the handsomely attired lady just going by,
little suspected for what purpose she walked in this locality.

And so it befell that Miriam was drawing near to the studios at the
moment when a cab stopped there, at the moment when Cecily alighted
from it. Instantly recognizing her sister-in-law, Miriam thought it
inevitable that she herself must be observed; for an instant her foot
was checked. But Cecily paid the driver without looking this way or
that, and entered the gateway. Miriam walked on for a few paces; then
glanced back and saw the cab waiting. She reached the turning of the
road, and still the c