list,
from heart-disease, he found that he had been, in all probability, the
last person who had seen the physician alive. He remembered the sudden
failure of strength which had sent the doctor staggering back into his
arm-chair.

"I suppose," he said to himself, and was aware of no feeling of
compunction, "it was what I told him that did the business. If that
damned whelp Gordon had let me alone--what am I to do now?"

When the architect appeared at his office one look at him told
Henrietta that she was not to have a comfortable day. "Well, it's my
last one here," she thought, and had occasion, as the hours wore on,
to repeat the assurance to herself many times, for comfort's sake.
Doubly repellent though her service under him had become since that
sad day of her sister's disaster, Henrietta had felt, nevertheless,
that justice demanded of her to continue in it until the time for
which she had given notice should expire. So, loyal to her sense of
fairness, she had kept on, while aversion deepened into loathing and,
of late, was even touched with fear.

Over and over again, as her troubles and apprehensions pressed sharply
upon her, did her thoughts recur to Hugh Gordon with longing
remembrance of the sense of protection and security she had felt in
his presence. So much did she dwell upon her memories of the hours
they had spent together that in her secret heart the feeling toward
him of intimacy and confidence grew ever stronger, and more and more
frequently the thought would leap into her mind, "I wish Hugh Gordon
were here."

The day which was to be the last of her service as Felix Brand's
secretary proved to be the most trying of all that she had endured. As
one unpleasant episode succeeded another her eyes sought the clock
again and again and she told herself, "It will be only four hours
more," or, "Now it's only two hours and a half," and again, "In
seventy minutes I shall be through."

As the hours dragged on it seemed to her that Brand's temper grew
steadily worse. And he went restlessly from one thing to another,
unable to concentrate his attention upon anything. He had on hand
several pieces of work, all of which Henrietta knew he was anxious to
finish as soon as possible. But he would take up first one, then
another, only to throw each one down impatiently with a muttered oath
after a few minutes of effort.

Henrietta did not know, as Dr. Annister had not known of his inward
compulsion the night bef