not think such things of her.

Gradually, as he looked, the gown told its own story, as she had thought
it would: how she had been obliged to put on a disguise, and this was the
only way to hide her own dress. Gradually he came to feel a great pleasure
in the fact that she had trusted him with it. She had known he would
understand, and perhaps had not had time to make further explanation. But
if she had need of a disguise, she was still in danger! Oh, why had she
not given him some clue? He dropped his head upon his hand in troubled
perplexity.

A faint perfume of violets stole upon his senses from the dress lying
across his knee. He touched it tenderly, and then half shamefacedly laid
his cheek against it, breathing in the perfume. But he put it down
quickly, looking quite foolish, and reminded himself that the girl was
still a stranger, and that she might belong to another.

Then he thought again of the story the Judge had told him, and of his own
first conviction that the two young women were identical. Could that be?
Why could he not discover who the other girl was, and get some one to
introduce him? He resolved to interview the Judge about it at their next
meeting. In the meantime, he must wait and hope for further word from
Mary. Surely she would write him again, and claim her ring perhaps, and,
as she had been so thoughtful about returning the hat and coat at once,
she would probably return the money he had loaned her. At least, he would
hear from her in that way. There was nothing to do but be patient.

Yes, there was the immediate problem of how he should restore his sister's
hat and his mother's coat to their places, unsuspected.

With a sigh, he carefully folded up the cloth gown, wrapped it in folds of
tissue paper from the empty hat-box, and placed it in his suit-case. Then
he transferred the hat to its original box, rang the bell, and ordered the
boy to care for the box and suit-case until he called for them.

During the afternoon he took occasion to run into the Judge's office about
some unimportant detail of the business they were transacting, and as he
was leaving he said:

"By the way, Judge, who was your young woman who gave you such a fright by
her sudden disappearance? You never told me her name. Is she one of my
acquaintances, I wonder?"

"Oh, her name is Mary Weston," said the Judge, smiling. "I don't believe
you know her, for she was from California, and was visiting here only for
a few