to 'Mrs. Tarrant.' It contained a
sheet of paper, on which was written in pencil: 'I beg you to see me, if
only for a minute.'

'Yes, I will see her,' said Nancy, when she had frowned in brief
reflection.

Mary led away the little boy, and, a moment after, introduced Jessica
Morgan. At the appearance of her former friend, Nancy with difficulty
checked an exclamation; Miss. Morgan wore the garb of the Salvation
Army. Harmonious therewith were the features shadowed by the hideous
bonnet: a face hardly to be recognised, bloodless, all but fleshless,
the eyes set in a stare of weak-minded fanaticism. She came hurriedly
forward, and spoke in a quick whisper.

'I was afraid you would refuse to see me.'

'Why have you come?'

'I was impelled--I had a duty to perform.'

Coldly, Nancy invited her to sit down, but the visitor shook her head.

'I mustn't take a seat in your house. I am unwelcome; we can't pretend
to be on terms of friendliness. I have come, first of all,'--her eyes
wandered as she spoke, inspecting the room,--'to humble myself before
you--to confess that I was a dishonourable friend,--to make known with
my lips that I betrayed your secret--'

Nancy interrupted the low, hurrying, panting voice, which distressed her
ear as much as the facial expression that accompanied it did her eyes.

'There's no need to tell me. I knew it at the time, and you did me no
harm. Indeed, it was a kindness.'

She drew away, but Jessica moved after her.

'I supposed you knew. But it is laid upon me to make a confession before
you. I have to ask your pardon, most humbly and truly.'

'Do you mean that some one has told you to do this?'

'Oh no!' A gleam of infinite conceit shot over the humility of Jessica's
countenance. 'I am answerable only to my own soul. In the pursuit of an
ideal which I fear you cannot understand, I subdue my pride, and confess
how basely I behaved to you. Will you grant me your forgiveness?'

She clasped her gloveless hands before her breast, and the fingers
writhed together.

'If it is any satisfaction to you,' replied Nancy, overcome with wonder
and pity, 'I will say those words. But don't think that I take upon
myself--'

'Only say them. I ask your pardon--say you grant it.'

Nancy uttered the formula, and with bowed head Jessica stood for a
minute in silence; her lips moved.

'And now,' she said at length, 'I must fulfil the second part of
the duty which has brought me here.' Her attitud