an't imagine why I ever said I would marry him--but if I don't, what
_am_ I to do with Aunt Jemima for four years! I should die of it."

Michael sat on the edge of the table and looked at her long and deeply.
He took in the childish picture she made in the big chair. He had no
definite appreciation then of her charm, his mind was too fixed upon
what seemed a prospect of certain escape from Violet Hatfield and her
cunning thirty years of experience. This young thing could not interfere
with him, and divorces in Scotland were not impossible things--they
would both gain what they wanted for the time, and it was a fair
bargain. So he said, after a moment:

"I will go up to London to-morrow, and if it is as you say that you are
free to marry whom and when you will, I will try to get this old
lawyer's consent and a special license--But how about your Uncle? Has he
not any legal right over you?"

Miss Delburg laughed contentedly.

"Not in the least--only that I have to live with him until I am married.
Mr. Parsons--that's the lawyer's name--hates him, and he hates Mr.
Parsons. So I know Mr. Parsons will be delighted to spite him by giving
his consent, if you just say Uncle Mortimer is trying to force me into a
marriage against my will with his nephew--Samuel Greenbank is his
nephew, you know--no relation to me. It is Aunt Jemima who is Papa's
sister."

All this seemed quite convincing. Michael felt relieved.

"I see," he said. "Well, it appears simple enough. I believe I could be
back by Thursday, and I could have my chaplain and a friend of mine, and
we could get the affair over in the chapel--and then you can go back to
the Inn with your certificate--and I can go to Paris--free!" And his
thoughts added, "And even if poor Maurice does die soon, I need fear
nothing!"

Now that their two fates seemed settled, Miss Delburg got out of the
chair and stood up in a dignified way; her soft cheeks were the color of
a glowing pink rose, and her violet eyes shone with fun and excitement,
her little, irregular features and perfect teeth seemed to add to the
infantine aspect of the picture she made in her unfashionable pink
cotton frock. Dress had been strongly discouraged at the Convent, and
was looked upon by Aunt Jemima, a strict New Englander, as a snare of
the devil, but even the garment, in the selecting of which she had had
no hand, seemed to hang with grace upon the child's slim figure.

Not a doubt as to the future cloud