ocking the door after her, but marveling at the girl's
apparent submission.

"There is no way to outwit rogues except with their own
weapons--cunning and deceit," murmured the fair prisoner, bitterly, as
she began to eat her breakfast. "I will be very wary and apparently
submissive until I have matured my plans, and then they may chew their
cud of defeat as long as it pleases them to do so."

After finishing her meal she dressed herself for the coming drive, but
wondered why Mrs. Weld had not been up to see her, for, of course, she
must know that something unusual had happened, or that she was ill
again, since she had not joined her at breakfast.

A little later she heard a stealthy step outside her door, and the
next moment an envelope was slipped beneath it into her room; then the
steps retreated, and all was still again.

Rising, Edith picked up the missive and opened it, when another sealed
envelope, addressed to her, in a beautiful, lady-like hand, and
postmarked Boston, was revealed, together with a brief note hastily
written with a pencil.

This latter proved to be from Mrs. Weld.

"Dear Child," it ran, "I have been requested not to go to
you this morning, as you are particularly engaged, which, of
course, I understand as a command to keep out of the way.
But I want you to know that I mean to stand by you, and
shall do all in my power to help you. I shall manage to see
or write to you again in a day or two. Meantime, don't lose
heart.

"Affectionately yours,

"GERTRUDE WELD.

"P.S.--The inclosed letter came for you in last night's
mail. I captured it for you."

With an eager light in her eyes, Edith opened it and read:

"Boston, Feb. --, 18--.

"MY DEAR MISS ALLEN:--I have learned of the wretched
deception that has been practiced upon you, and hasten to
write this to assure you that my previous offer of
friendship--when we met at the time of the accident to my
coachman--was not a mere matter of form. Again I say, if you
need a friend, come to me, and I will do my utmost to shield
you from those who have shown themselves your worst enemies,
and whom I know to be unworthy of the position which they
occupy in the social world. Come to me when you will, and I
promise to protect you from them. I cannot say more upon