"And for the same reason," added Orion, "there is not a soul at work now
in the office."

This was awkward. Not for worlds would she have been seen in the house;
and knowing, as she did from her games with Mary, every nook and corner
of it, she began to consider her position. Her delicate features assumed
a sinister expression quite new to Orion, which both displeased him and
roused his anxiety--not for himself but for Mary, who could certainly
get no good from such a companion as this. These visits must not be
repeated very often; he would not allude to the subject in the child's
presence, but Katharina should at once have a hint. She could not
get out of the place without his assistance; so he intruded on her
meditations to inform her that he had the key of the office about him.
Then he went to see if the hall were empty, and led her at once to the
treasurer's office through the various passages which connected it with
the main buildings. The office at this hour was as lonely as the grave,
and when Orion found himself standing with her, close to the door which
opened on the road to the harbor, and had already raised the key to
unlock it, he paused and for the first time broke the silence they had
both preserved during their unpleasant walk, saying:

"What brought you to see Mary, Katharina? Tell me honestly." Her heart,
which had been beating high since she had found herself alone with him
in the silent and deserted house, began to throb wildly; a great terror,
she knew not of what, came over her.

"She had come to the house for several reasons, but one had outweighed
all the rest: Mary must be told that her young uncle and Paula were
betrothed; for she knew by experience that the child could keep nothing
of importance from her grandmother, and that Neforis had no love for
Paula was an open secret. As yet she certainly could know nothing of
her son's formal suit, but if once she were informed of it she would
do everything in her power--of this Katharina had not a doubt--to keep
Orion and Paula apart. So the girl had told Mary that it was already
reported that they were a betrothed and happy pair, and that she herself
had watched them making love in her neighbor's garden. To her great
annoyance, however, Mary took this all very coolly and without any
special excitement.

"So, when Orion enquired of his companion what had brought her to the
governor's house, she could only reply that she longed so desperately to
see