rrier.--He is still in love with you, I
suppose."

The last words were murmured in a tone which caused the hearer to look
up uneasily. Mrs. Wade at once averted her face, which was curiously
hard and expressionless.

"What do you think?" she said a moment after. "Would it be any use if I
had a talk with him?"

"Will you?" asked Lilian, eagerly. "You may perhaps influence him. You
can speak so well--so persuasively. I don't think he is utterly
depraved. As you say, he would have gone first to Denzil. Perhaps he
can be moved to have pity on me."

"Perhaps--but I have more faith in an appeal to his interests."

"It would be dreadful if Denzil had to live henceforth at his mercy."

"It would. But it's a matter of--of life and death."

Mrs. Wade's voice sank on those words, shaking just a little. She put
her face nearer to Lilian's, but without looking at her.

"Suppose no argument will prevail with him, dear?" she continued in
that low, tremulous tone. "Suppose he persists in claiming you?"

The voice had a strange effect upon Lilian's nerves. She shook with
agitation, and drew away a little.

"He cannot! He has no power to take me! At the worst, we can only be
driven back into solitude."

"True, dear; but it would not be the same kind of solitude as before.
Think of the huge scandal, the utter ruin of brilliant prospects."

Lilian lay back and moaned in anguish. Her eyes were closed, and in
that moment Mrs. Wade gazed at her for a moment only; then the widow
rose from her chair, and spoke in a voice of encouragement.

"I will see him, Lily. You remain here; I'll call him into the
dining-room."

She stepped to the window, and saw that Northway was standing only at a
little distance. After meditating for a minute or two, she left the
room very quietly, crossed the passage, and entered the room opposite,
where she generally took her meals. Here again she went to the window,
and again had a good view of the man on guard. A smile rose to her face.

Then she went out and signalled to Northway, who approached in an
embarrassed way, doing his best to hold his head up and look dignified.
Mrs. Wade regarded him with contemptuous amusement, but was careful to
show nothing of this; her face and tone as she greeted him expressed
more than civility--all but deference.

"Will you do me the kindness to enter for a few minutes, Mr. Northway?"

He doffed his hat, smiled sourly, and followed her into the little
dining-ro