h here, an'--an'--" the hostler wrestled with the
mental exercise that had been entrusted to his muddled brain. He'd swear
that she was there, for his eyes had seen her, two of her; and also he
had a hazy idea that when he essayed the stairs she had entrusted to
him some message. He groped fitfully among the wheels that buzzed in his
skull for the elusive something connected with her advent. The heredity
of habit came to his assistance.

"D'ye want a drink?" he asked, with a sudden brightening.

"Drink!" a voice cried. "I don't want any drink" A strong hand had him
by the collar, and the house was rocking violently to and fro; he could
scarcely keep his feet.

"Wake up, you're drunk. Is Miss Porter down stairs?"

"Porter, Porter, yesh, Portersh gal; thatsh what I said. Whatsh matter
with you?--leg-go. Keep cool, don't get excited."

"Here, get out--go down stairs!" And he did, hurriedly.

Crane had followed him down. Allis was standing just within the hall
door.

"Good afternoon, Miss Porter," he said. "It was good of you to come.
I've got something very important to tell you, and it's better that we
have quiet--it doesn't seem quite the usual order of things here.
Should you mind coming upstairs to the sitting room, where we shall be
undisturbed?"

"I don't mind," answered the girl, simply.

"Have a chair," he said, motioning to the one Cass had lately sat in.

Crane did not take the other seat, but paced restlessly up and down the
room; it cooled the fever of his mind.

"I hope it isn't more bad news, Mr. Crane," Allis said; for her
companion seemed indisposed to break the silence.

"It is--" the girl started--"for me," Crane added, after a little pause;
"and yet I am glad."

"That sounds strange," Allis commented, wonderingly.

"What I am going to say to you means the destruction of the dearest hope
I have in life, but it can't be helped. Now I wouldn't have it any other
way."

Suddenly he stopped in his swift pace, faced the girl, and asked, "You
are quite sure you can't love me?" He was waiting for an answer.

"No, I can't--I hate to cause you misery, but I must speak the truth;
you have asked for it."

"And you've answered honestly. I know it was foolish in me to ask
the impossible. Just one more question and then I will tell you why I
brought you here. Do you still believe in Mortimer's innocence--do you
love Mortimer?"

"Yes."

"If I were to tell you that he is innocent, that I have disc