elf, which shall insure my return
here?"

"My dear," she said, taking my head between her two trembling hands, "I
have never looked upon a sweeter face than my daughter's till I looked
upon yours to-day. If you bid me hope, I will hope, and if you bid me
trust, I will trust. The remembrance of this kiss will not let you
forget." And she embraced me in a warm and tender manner.

"I will write you," I murmured. "Some day look for a billet under the
door. It will tell you what to do; now I must go back to my husband."

When I reached the office, I was in a fainting condition, but all my
hopes revived again when I saw the vest still hanging where I had left
it, and heard my husband's voice singing cheerfully in the adjoining
room.

CHAPTER VI

WHILE OTHERS DANCED

A crowd in the ---- Street house was necessary to the quiet escape of
Mrs. Ransome and her daughter; so a crowd we must have, and how have a
crowd without giving a grand party?

I knew that this would be a shocking proposition to him; but I was
prepared to meet all objections; and when, with every nerve alert and
every charm exerted to its utmost, I sat down at his side that evening
to plead my cause, I knew by the sparkle of his eye and the softening of
the bitter lines that sometimes hardened his mouth, that the battle was
half won before I spoke, and that I should have my party whatever it
might cost him in mental stress and worry.

The next thing I did was to procure a facsimile of his key from the wax
impression I had taken of it in accordance with my promise to Mrs.
Ransome. Then I wrote her a letter, in which I gave her the minutest
directions as to her own movements on that important evening. After
which I gave myself up entirely to the business of the party.

Certain things I had insisted on. All the rooms were to be opened, even
those on the third floor; and I was to have a band to play in the hall.
He did not deny me anything. I think his judgment was asleep, or else he
was so taken up with the horrible problem presented by his desire to
leave the city and the existence of those obligations which made
departure an impossibility, that he failed to place due stress on
matters which, at another time, might very well seem to threaten the
disclosure of his dangerous secret.

At last the night came.

An entertainment given in this great house had aroused much interest.
Most of our invitations had been accepted, and the affair promised to