mystery which, with all the good-will in the world, no word of hers
could elucidate.

As for the secret history of last night's dark transactions, however,
that was not altogether hers to disclose. The interests and affairs of
others were involved, she dared not guess how disastrously; she was
only sensitive to the feeling that something black and foul and
hideous skulked behind that shut door. Heaven forfend that hers should
be the hand to open it and let ruin loose upon this pleasant world of
Gosnold House!

It seemed incumbent upon her to explain that Mrs. Standish had brought
to her room a jewel-case for Sally to hide or otherwise dispose of.
Beyond this she feared to go. She would not mention Lyttleton or Trego
or the yacht, or the window of the signals.

In the end, stopping tears and sobs as best she might, she waited
listlessly her sentence of expulsion. Now nothing mattered; if her
heart was lighter, her future was darker; and presently the nobody
that she was would return into that drab nowhere whence some ill wind
of chance had wafted her.

"Don't be a fool!" Mrs. Gosnold counselled her abruptly with unwonted
brusqueness. "Do you really think I'm capable of baiting a trap for
you with fair words and flattery for the sheer, inhuman pleasure of
seeing you suffer until I choose to set you adrift? See how you've
upset me already; metaphor is never safe in a woman's hands, but
I'm seldom as bad as all that!"

Sally sniffed abjectly. "I'm willing to do anything . . ."

"You've done enough. Be content. If it were not for you and what
you've been able to tell me, I'd . . . Well, no matter; I don't know
what I'd do. As it is . . . Look here!"

She paused in front of Sally, dropped one hand kindly on the girl's
shoulder, with the other lifted her chin, exploring her tear-wet eyes
with a gaze at once charitable and discriminating.

"I've taken a fancy to you, if you are a bit of an idiot. And I
believe implicitly every word you've uttered. Perhaps I oughtn't to,
and I probably wouldn't, if your account of yourself didn't chime so
exactly with what I know about my dutiful niece and nephew. But, you
see, I do know them, and very well--and that they're quite capable of
all you say, and more to boot. Adele Standish in especial I know far
too well to believe for an instant she'd burden herself with
benevolent intentions toward another woman without expecting to reap
some wildly inadequate reward. That's all that b