ope lies
in your mother. She knows all about it; I do not."

And he turned and left her standing at the door. Slowly she descended
the steps, drawing her veil as she did so about her face, and walked
away more like one in a dream than conscious of the tide of life setting
so strongly all about her.

CHAPTER V.

_MEANTIME_, obeying the unwelcome summons, Mrs. Dinneford had gone to
see Mrs. Bray. She found her in a small third-story room in the lower
part of the city, over a mile away from her own residence. The meeting
between the two women was not over-gracious, but in keeping with their
relations to each other. Mrs. Dinneford was half angry and impatient;
Mrs. Bray cool and self-possessed.

"And now what is it you have to say?" asked the former, almost as soon
as she had entered.

"The woman to whom you gave that baby was here yesterday."

A frightened expression came into Mrs. Dinneford's face. Mrs. Bray
watched her keenly as, with lips slightly apart, she waited for what
more was to come.

"Unfortunately, she met me just as I was at my own door, and so found
out my residence," continued Mrs. Bray. "I was in hopes I should never
see her again. We shall have trouble, I'm afraid."

"In what way?"

"A bad woman who has you in her power can trouble you in many ways,"
answered Mrs. Bray.

"She did not know my name--you assured me of that. It was one of the
stipulations."

"She does know, and your daughter's name also. And she knows where the
baby is. She's deeper than I supposed. It's never safe to trust such
people; they have no honor."

Fear sent all the color out of Mrs. Dinneford's face.

"What does she want?"

"Money."

"She was paid liberally."

"That has nothing to do with it. These people have no honor, as I said;
they will get all they can."

"How much does she want?"

"A hundred dollars; and it won't end there, I'm thinking. If she is
refused, she will go to your house; she gave me that alternative--would
have gone yesterday, if good luck had not thrown her in my way. I
promised to call on you and see what could be done."

Mrs. Dinneford actually groaned in her fear and distress.

"Would you like to see her yourself?" coolly asked Mrs. Bray.

"Oh dear! no, no!" and the lady put up her hands in dismay.

"It might be best," said her wily companion.

"No, no, no! I will have nothing to do with her! You must keep her away
from me," replied Mrs. Dinneford, with increasing agit