ver have, in jeweler's shop or elsewhere, till yesterday."

"Yesterday?" Her great eyes, haggard with suffering, rose to mine, then
they fell on the bead which I had taken from my pocket. The cry she gave
was not loud, but it effectually settled all my doubts.

"What did you know of Mrs. Carew before she came to ----?" I asked
impressively.

For minutes she did not answer; she was trembling like a leaf.

"Her mother!" she exclaimed at last. "Her mother! her own mother! And
she never hinted it to me by word or look. Oh, Valerie, Valerie, what
tortures we have both suffered! and now you are happy while I--"

Grief seemed to engulf her. Feeling my position keenly, I walked to the
window, but soon turned and came back in response to her cry: "I must
see Mrs. Carew instantly. Give my orders. I will start at once to New
York. They will think I have gone to be on hand to meet Mr. Ocumpaugh,
and will say that I have not the strength. Override their objections. I
put my whole cause in your hands. You will go with me?"

"With pleasure, madam."

And thus was that terrifying apathy broken up, to be succeeded by a
spell of equally terrifying energy.

XXVII

THE FINAL STRUGGLE

She, however, did not get off that night. I dared not push the matter to
the point of awakening suspicion, and when the doctor said that the ship
was not due for twenty hours and that it would be madness for her to
start without a night's rest and two or three good meals, I succumbed
and she also to the few hours' delay. More than that, she consented to
retire, and when I joined her in her carriage the following morning, it
was to find her physically stronger, even if the mind was still a prey
to deepest anguish and a torturing indecision. Her nurse accompanied us
and the maid called Celia, so conversation was impossible--a fact I did
not know whether to be thankful for or not. On the cars she was shielded
as much as possible from every one's gaze, and when we reached New York
we were driven at once to the Plaza. As I noticed the respect and
intense sympathy with which her presence was met by those who saw
nothing in her broken aspect but a mother's immeasurable grief, I
wondered at the secrets which lie deep down in the hearts of humanity,
and what the effect would be if I should suddenly shout aloud:

"She is more wretched than you think. Her suspense is one that the
child's return would not appease. Dig deeper into mortal fear and woe if