ean?"

She must restrain herself, no danger must come near her. Even her sorrow
for Elizabeth, her stinging remorse, could not make her unselfish enough
to run any personal risk of his displeasure.

"I don't know what I mean--nothing at all! But it drives me wild to
think of Bessie. Where can she be--where could she go? Suppose she has
killed herself! Oh, she may be drowned in the bay--drowned--drowned!"

She went nearly mad with the ideas which her fancy conjured up, but it
was perfectly in keeping with her character that in the very extremity
of her suffering, no word for Elizabeth should be spoken that would
implicate herself. Mellen must not guess at her knowledge of his wife's
fault.

"You will have her searched for," she cried; "promise me that, if you
don't want to kill me outright, promise me that."

"It could do no good, Elsie, none whatever. She has chosen her own
destiny."

"It might, it might! If she has no money what will become of her?"

"I will inquire to-morrow," he replied. "I will write to my agent. If
she has disposed of the stocks I will see that she has means to live
upon; I promise you that."

"Really, truly?"

"Did I ever break my word, Elsie?"

"No, no; but you are so hard and stern."

"Never with you, darling--never with you."

Elsie groaned aloud, but hastened to speak:

"I am only in pain--don't mind it."

"My poor little Elsie, my sister, my treasure!"

"Do you love me so much, Grant?"

"Better than ever; you are all I have now! Oh, Elsie, don't shut your
heart against me, I can't bear that. Try to believe that I have acted as
justly as a man could. To the whole world I can be stern and silent, but
let me tell you the truth. I loved that woman so, my heart is breaking
under this grief. Bear patiently with me, child."

"Oh, if you suffer, send for her back," cried Elsie. "Let her explain;
you gave her no time----"

"Hush, hush! Have I not said all those things to myself?"

This man's pride was so utterly crushed that he was revealing the inmost
secrets of his soul to this frail girl, scarcely caring to conceal from
her how keenly he suffered.

"But try," pleaded Elsie; "only try."

"It is impossible; later you will see that as plainly as I do. Don't you
see what a sin I should commit in taking a false, dishonored woman back
to my heart; what a wrong to my sister in exposing her to the society of
a creature so lost and fallen?"

"She is good!" cried Elsie. "Bessie w