him about the commission intrusted
to him by my husband. I confess Mr. Steele has not inspired me with the
confidence that Mr. Packard feels in him and I rather shrink from this
interview. Will you be good enough--rather will you show me the great
kindness of sitting on that low divan by the fireplace where you will
not be visible--see, you may have my work to busy yourself with--and
if--he may not, you know--if he should show the slightest disposition to
transgress in any way, rise and show yourself?"

I was conscious of flushing slightly, but she was not looking my way,
and the betrayal cost me only a passing uneasiness. She had, quite
without realizing it, offered me the one opportunity I most desired.
In my search for a new explanation of Mrs. Packard's rapidly changing
moods, I had returned to my first suspicion--the attraction and possibly
the passion of the handsome secretary for herself. I had very little
reason for entertaining such a possibility. I had seen nothing on his
part to justify it and but little on hers.

Yet in the absence of every other convincing cause of trouble I allowed
myself to dwell on this one, and congratulated myself upon the chance
she now offered me of seeing and hearing how he would comport himself
when he thought that he was alone with her. Assured by the sounds in the
hall that Mr. Steele was approaching, I signified my acquiescence with
her wishes, and, taking the embroidery from her hand, sat down in the
place she had pointed out.

I heard the deep breath she drew, forgot in an instant my purpose of
questioning her concerning Nixon, and settled myself to listen, not only
to such words as must inevitably pass between them, but to their tones,
to the unconscious sigh, to whatever might betray his feeling toward her
or hers toward him, convinced as I now was that feeling of some kind
lay back of an interview which she feared to hold without the support of
another's secret presence.

The calm even tones of the gentleman himself, modulated to an expression
of utmost deference, were the first to break the silence.

"You wish to see me, Mrs. Packard?"

"Yes." The tremble in this ordinary monosyllable was slight but quite
perceptible. "Mr. Packard has given you a task, concerning the necessity
of which I should be glad to learn your opinion. Do you think it wise
to--to probe into such matters? Not that I mean to deter you. You are
under Mr. Packard's orders, but a word from so experi