elighted to help you, Sandy."

"When I make it worth your while."

"Put it that way if you wish."

"Do you think that for once in your life you could look less like the
devil than you are naturally, and act the role of parson?"

"I might if I associate with you long enough. Saintly company might
change my expression."

"You won't have time to try. You've got to have your clerical look in
good working order by Friday. Incidently you are to marry me to the
prettiest girl in Massachusetts and keep your mouth closed."

As if to end the discussion, Sanderson strode over to his desk and
wrote out a check for a thousand dollars. He came back, waving it in
the air to dry the ink.

"Perhaps you will condescend to explain," Langdon said, as he pocketed
the check.

"Explanations are always bores, my dear boy. There is a little girl
who feels obliged to insist on formalities, not too many. She'll think
your acting as the parson the best joke in the world, but it would not
do to chaff her about it."

"Oh, I see," and Langdon's laugh was not pleasant.

"Exactly. You will have everything ready--white choker, black coat and
all the rest of it, and now, my dear boy, you've got to excuse me as
I've got a lot of work on hand."

They shook hands and Langdon's footsteps were soon echoing down the
corridor.

The foul insinuation that Sanderson had just made about Anna rankled in
his mind. He went to the sideboard and poured himself out a good stiff
drink. After that, his conscience did not trouble him.

The work on account of which he excused himself from Langdon's society,
was apparently not of the most pressing order, for Sanderson almost
immediately started for Boston, turning his steps towards Mrs. Standish
Tremont's.

"Mrs. Tremont was not at home," the man announced at the door, "and
Mrs. Endicott was confined to her room with a bad headache. Should he
take his card to Miss Moore?"

Sanderson assented, feeling that fate was with him.

"My darling," he said, as Anna came in a moment later, and folded her
close in a long embrace. She was paler than when he had last seen her
and there were dark rings under her eyes that hinted at long night
vigils.

"Lennox," she said, "do not think me weak, but I am terribly
frightened. It does not seem as if we were doing the right thing by
our friends."

"Goosey girl," he said, kissing her, "who was it that said no marriage
ever suited all parties unconcerned?"

S