r her in some amazement, watched her tap softly,
heard the door open, saw her enter the room, and then went slowly
down-stairs.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

CORA UNDER ORDERS.

When Cora entered the room, Madeline Payne stood before her mirror,
while her maid, kneeling beside her, arranged the folds of lustrous
azure silk that fell about the slender form.

The door had been opened by Hagar, who could scarcely keep her eyes
off the beautiful face and form of her young mistress, and who was, in
consequence, making very slow progress with the work of putting away
the garments that had been discarded in favor of the lovely dinner
dress.

Madeline realized fully that the part she was now playing was even
more difficult and distasteful than that which she had abandoned. But
she was resolute. To go back now would be worse than death. While she
felt a thrill of repugnance as she saw the fair, sensual face of John
Arthur's wife reflected in her mirror, she turned with smiling
countenance, saying:

"Is it you, step-mamma? How kind of you! Am I delaying the dinner?"

"No more than I am," smiled Cora, in return. "I thought you might like
me to wait for you, as you are so much of a stranger to your old
home."

"Oh, I am not at all timid, I assure you; but it is nicer to go
together. Am I almost ready, Strong?"

"Almost, Miss Payne."

"How quickly your maid dresses you," said Cora, resolved to keep the
conversational ball rolling.

"Oh, yes; Strong knows how to pack things so that what you want first
is uppermost, and I had my dinner dress in a hand traveling-case."
Then, turning about she asked, abruptly: "Have you a good maid,
step-mamma?"

Cora laughed nervously as she replied: "I have no maid, good or bad.
My maid ran away a week ago, after robbing me and nearly killing me
with chloroform."

"Mercy, what a wretch! What have you done with her?"

"We have not found her."

"Did you look?"

"Yes; detectives are looking for her now."

"Well, I hope they will find her. Now I am ready; come, step-mamma."

And together the two descended the stairs.

Three faces reflected three degrees of surprise, as the ladies entered
the drawing-room with every appearance of good feeling and mutual
satisfaction. Davlin and Percy took their cue immediately. The only
one whom an observer would have pronounced not quite at ease, was Miss
Ellen Arthur, who stared from one to the other rather more than was
polite, and who sustained