ached it
to see if my ever watchful neighbors had retired. Their window was
dark, but I observed what was of much more vital interest to me at that
moment. It was that I was not the only one awake and stirring in our
house. The light from a room diagonally below me poured in a stream on
the opposite wall, and it took but a moment's consideration for me to
decide that the shadow I saw crossing and recrossing this brilliant
square was cast by Mrs. Packard.

My first impulse was to draw back--(that was the lady's impulse not
quite crushed out of me by the occupation circumstances had compelled
me to take up)--my next, to put out my own light and seat myself at the
post of observation thus afforded me. The excuse I gave myself for this
was plausible enough. Mrs. Packard had been placed in my charge and, if
all was not right with her, it was my business to know it.

Accordingly I sat and watched each movement of my mysterious charge as
it was outlined on the telltale wall before me, and saw enough in one
half-hour to convince me that something very vigorous and purposeful was
going on in the room so determinedly closed against every one, even her
own husband.

What?

The moving silhouette of her figure, which was all that I could see, was
not perfect enough in detail for me to determine. She was busy at some
occupation which took her from one end of the room to the other; but
after watching her shadow for an hour I was no surer than at first as to
what that occupation was. It was a serious one, I saw, and now and
then the movements I watched gave evidence of frantic haste, but their
character stood unrevealed till suddenly the thought came:

"She is rummaging bureau-drawers and emptying boxes,--in other words,
packing a bag or trunk."

Should I be witness to a flight? I thought it very likely, especially
when I heard the faint sound of a door opening below, followed by the
swish of silken skirts. I recalled Mayor Packard's fears and began to
suspect that they were not groundless.

This called for action, and I was about to open my door and rush out
when I was deterred by the surprising discovery that the steps I heard
were coming up rather than going down, and that in another moment
she would be in the hall outside, possibly on her way to the nursery,
possibly with the intention of coming to my own room.

Greatly taken aback, I stood with my ear to the door, listening
intently. Yes, she has reached the top of the s