eprosy. What would
become of her? How would she bear it? Who would take care of her when
the great shock fell?

A sudden strength came into him. A force that had lain as silent and
reserved as the force of steam in water surged forth at the fiery touch
of the thought that had first come to him. He got up hastily and put the
lawyer's letters and the parcel of papers into his iron safe and locked
it. The photograph only he left out, and this he thrust into the inner
pocket of his coat. As he was doing so it caught on something. It was
his cross. A thought thrilled him. He was her knight of the Legion of
Honor, and he felt that he had kept his trust!

He went out of the office, called a cab, and had himself driven to a
street and number in a remote suburb of the city. In a quiet, pretty
little house, overrun with vines, and facing a green and grassy public
square as fresh and lovely as it was unfashionable, he stayed a long
time, and when he emerged from it an elderly lady, dressed in black and
with a white widow's cap set above her smoothly-brushed hair, came to
the door with him and pressed his hand with a fervent "God bless you" as
he was leaving her.

It was evident that he had inspired her with some of the ardent spirit
that was animating him, for she looked eager and full of interest, and
as she turned back within the house, when he had driven off, she had
the manner of a person who had work to do that called forth her best
energies and sympathies. Noel had the same air as he caused himself to
be driven from place to place, in pursuance of some purpose which kept
him occupied until far into the night.

XI.

Next morning when the hour for Christine's sitting came Noel was walking
up and down in his studio with a face intensely pale from past
sleeplessness and present excitement. He looked at his watch frequently,
as if impatient, and yet the least sound made him start as if nervous
and apprehensive. At last the sound he longed for and yet dreaded was
heard, and he went to the door and threw it open for Christine to enter.

She came in without speaking, and throwing back her veil revealed her
pale, sad face, with its look of passionless woe.

Noel took her hand as he closed the door behind her and inquired for her
health. It was steadier than his, that little black-gloved hand. He felt
reluctant to let it go as she withdrew it and began to take off her
bonnet and gloves. When she had laid these on the t