test. Besides, what good would it do?"

"That is so, Stell," said Lilly impatiently. "Why are you always so
anxious to tell things?"

"I have one last hope," said Miss Gardine. "Ze doctair has said if my
brother could once remember zat last year he might be cured entierement.
It is brooding on zat subject that brought on his insanity: he needs a
shock. Now, if you will go with me when I visit him, and show him
suddenly ze star buttons--who knows?--all may come back to him. I have
told ze doctair all ze story, and he thinks it a plan of wisdom."

"I am sure it is," said Lilly, "and I will go with you with pleasure."

"To a madhouse?" cried I.

"You would never know it was zat," said the French lady: "it is like one
fine private house, ze patients are all so gentle."

The end of it was that we promised to meet her at the Catholic cathedral
the next day, and go with her to see her brother. "Dress very simply,"
said she at parting, "and do not fear anysing. If any one speaks to you
in ze house, all you must do is to make one courtesy very respectful,
and humor them in their leetle fancies."

Mrs. Long noticed the next day our preoccupation and aversion to our
usual interests, but, thinking it the natural reaction after the
excitement of the past weeks, she forbore to question us.

We were promptly at the place of appointment next day, and so was Miss
Vera. A carriage was called, and we were driven rapidly to a house just
on the edge of the city--a fine, rambling old house, set far back in
beautiful grounds and surrounded by an iron fence. Heavy iron gates
swung open harshly, and closed after us with a clanging, dismal sound. I
clung to Lilly's arm, feeling very nervous, but her courage seemed to
rise with the occasion. "You had better take the earrings out," said
Miss Gardine before we went in: "here is a box I have brought on
purpose."

Lilly handed her the earrings, together with the package of lace
handkerchiefs that I had appropriated.

By this time we had reached the door. Miss Gardine unlocked it with a
key she had in her pocket, and we entered a beautiful picture-hung hall
with a silver lamp swinging from its ceiling. On either side were rooms
exquisitely furnished, it seemed to us in a hasty glance. Certainly,
Miss Vera had been right when she had said there was nothing to frighten
any one about this madhouse. In a boudoir that we passed a young lady
sat at a piano singing--a beautiful girl dressed in blu