can return to the house now, and trust to me
for the rest."

"But I'm afraid she will run away with that villain," said the Captain.

"Of course, we must prevent that," I replied; "I shall have a plan
prepared, in case they attempt to run away together; but, I do not think
Pattmore is quite ready yet for such a step. Keep your spirits up,
Captain, and don't borrow trouble."

"I have all confidence in you, Mr. Pinkerton," he said as he went out;
"but I shall be much happier when I am back on my farm."

According to instructions, Miss Seaton called on Mrs. Thayer, though she
did not gain admittance to her room. When Mrs. Thayer opened the door,
Miss Seaton saw that she had been crying, and that she was evidently
much disturbed. She asked Miss Seaton to excuse her, as she had company
from the East.

About noon Pattmore returned to his hotel, as the Captain would not
permit him to dine at the boarding house. As Mrs. Thayer did not come
down to dinner, Miss Seaton again visited her, and found her dressing to
go out. She asked Miss Seaton to remain until she was dressed, but said
that she was going out driving in the afternoon and to the theatre in
the evening. In a short time, the Captain came in, and Miss Seaton
retired. The Captain asked Mrs. Thayer what she meant by breaking her
promises not to see Pattmore again.

She replied that Pattmore was a man she could not help loving; that she
had tried her best to overcome her passion, but in vain; and that she
could not break off the connection so abruptly, but that she would
endeavor to do so gradually in the future. Then she kissed the Captain,
saying that she was never so happy in her life, and that she was going
out driving with Pattmore that afternoon. The Captain remonstrated with
her without effect, and, seeing that he could not move her from her
purpose he came straight to my office to report.

Pattmore came again in the afternoon and took Mrs. Thayer out driving.
She looked superb as she went off, having recovered entirely from her
illness. She was in a perfect flutter of happiness and excitement, which
gave her a brilliant color, and added to the brightness of her eyes. She
was agitated by conflicting influences; on one side, was her brother,
determined to separate her from her lover, and justly blaming her
course; on the other, was Pattmore, claiming her love, and urging her to
abandon her brother's protection.

They were gone about three hours, and, on the