arried to an unpermissible length.

"But I must come to the point," continued Miss Van Rossum, with a slight
frown, which I deemed an indication that she had something rather
difficult to say. "Of course you've been wondering at my coming here. I
know it's a bit unconventional, but I didn't want to write and ask you
to come and see me. We have only just returned from California and are
off to Southampton in the morning. I--I simply felt that I must take my
chance of finding you at home. I told you a minute ago that Gordon
always said you were a man to be trusted to the utmost, and--and I want
to find out something about him. Please, Mr. Cole, have you any news of
him?"

"I have received but one very short letter," I replied. "I will go and
get it for you."

I think I was glad to escape for a moment and leave her with Frances,
for I foresaw a long cross-examination. She had looked very brave and
strong at the moment of her amazing arrival, and I had wondered at such
an unusual proceeding. But now I realized that she was very profoundly
disturbed, that her show of pluck was but a veil to cover a heart which
could suffer the same pains as gnaw at the breasts of so many of her
sisters of humbler station. Gordon, old friend, I fear I shall never
quite forgive you! You have done vivisection without the excuse of
scientific need, without the slightest idea that it could profit any one
but yourself!

I found the note, but did not return immediately. I asked myself how
much she knew, seeing that there were many possibilities of inflicting
further pain on a very fine young woman who was already undergoing
unmerited punishment. Finally, I went back, slowly, to find her sitting
in front of Frances, with their two heads quite near one another and
their eyes directed to Baby Paul's little pink mouth.

"I have it here. Miss Van Rossum. You will see that it is quite short.
He must be tremendously busy and surely snatched a precious moment for a
word to an old friend."

I handed her the letter, in an envelope that had been opened by the
censor and pasted over with a bit of thin paper. She took it with a very
steady hand.

The girl was engaged in playing a game, I could plainly see. It was one
in which her heart was involved and perhaps her pride somewhat aroused.
She opened the thing and looked over the brief sentences.

"_Dear old Dave_:

"Found a lot of fellows I knew. Didn't have a bit of trouble
getting in