t is the matter--what has occurred?" she breathlessly asked.

"Nothing as yet to disturb you much. Do not be alarmed." But my face
betrayed me.

"There is something!" said she.

"Your cousin is coming down."

"Down here?" and she shrank visibly.

"No, to the reception room."

"I do not understand. It is all dreadful; and no one tells me anything."

"I pray God there may be nothing to tell. Judging from your present
faith in your cousin, there will not be. Take comfort, then, and be
assured I will inform you if anything occurs which you ought to know."

Giving her a look of encouragement, I left her crushed against the
crimson pillows of the sofa on which she sat, and rejoined Mr. Gryce. We
had scarcely entered the reception room when Eleanore Leavenworth came
in.

More languid than she was an hour before, but haughty still, she slowly
advanced, and, meeting my eye, gently bent her head.

"I have been summoned here," said she, directing herself exclusively to
Mr. Gryce, "by an individual whom I take to be in your employ. If so,
may I request you to make your wishes known at once, as I am quite
exhausted, and am in great need of rest."

"Miss Leavenworth," returned Mr. Gryce, rubbing his hands together and
staring in quite a fatherly manner at the door-knob, "I am very sorry to
trouble you, but the fact is I wish to ask you----"

But here she stopped him. "Anything in regard to the key which that man
has doubtless told you he saw me drop into the ashes?"

"Yes, Miss."

"Then I must refuse to answer any questions concerning it. I have
nothing to say on the subject, unless it is this:"--giving him a look
full of suffering, but full of a certain sort of courage, too--"that
he was right if he told you I had the key in hiding about my person, and
that I attempted to conceal it in the ashes of the grate."

"Still, Miss----"

But she had already withdrawn to the door. "I pray you to excuse me,"
said she. "No argument you could advance would make any difference in my
determination; therefore it would be but a waste of energy on your
part to attempt any." And, with a flitting glance in my direction, not
without its appeal, she quietly left the room.

For a moment Mr. Gryce stood gazing after her with a look of great
interest, then, bowing with almost exaggerated homage, he hastily
followed her out.

I had scarcely recovered from the surprise occasioned by this unexpected
movement when a quick step was heard