l expect you to forget all about him and his errand
the moment you leave his presence. You understand me?"

"I think so," I replied, meeting her steady look with one equally
composed. Part of my strength--and I think I have some strength--lies in
the fact that I am quietest when most deeply roused. "I am not to talk
whatever the outcome."

"Not even to me," she emphasized.

Stirred still further and therefore outwardly even more calm than
before, I stopped her as she was moving on and ventured a single query.

"This position--involving secrecy--is it one you would advise me to
take, even if I did not stand in need of it so badly?"

"Yes. The difficulties will not be great to a discreet person. It is a
first-class opportunity for a young woman as experienced as yourself."

"Thank you," was my abrupt but grateful rejoinder; and, obeying her
silent gesture, I opened the door of the sitting-room and passed in. A
gentleman standing at one of the windows turned quickly at the sound
of my step and came forward. Instantly whatever doubt I may have felt
concerning the nature of the work about to be proposed to me yielded
to the certainty that, however much it might involve of the strange
and difficult, the man whose mission it was to seek my aid was one to
inspire confidence and respect.

He was also a handsome man, or no, I will not go so far as that; he was
only one in whom the lines of form and visage were fine enough not to
interfere with the impression made by his strong nature and intense
vitality. A man to sway women and also quite capable of moving men (this
was evident at a glance); but a man under a cloud just at present,--a
very heavy cloud which both irked and perplexed him.

Pausing in the middle of the room, he surveyed me closely for an instant
before speaking. Did I impress him as favorably as he did me? I soon had
reason to think so, for the nervous trembling of his hands ceased after
the first moment or two of silent scrutiny, and I was sure I caught the
note of hope in his voice as he courteously remarked:

"You are seeking a place, young lady. Do you think you can fill the one
I have to offer? It has its difficulties, but it is not an onerous one.
It is that of companion to my wife."

I bowed; possibly I smiled. I do smile sometimes when a ray of real
sunshine darts across my pathway.

"I should be very glad to try such a situation," I replied.

A look of relief, so vivid that it startled me, alt