veil from her
face, looked about her, nodding half unconsciously to Thomas Tubbs, whom
she knew from having seen him in her husband's office, and who since
leaving Hartford had been a passenger on board that train, sitting just
behind Dr. Morris, and wondering when he saw who his companion was, "if
Mrs. Wilford had been to Silverton." Mattie wondered, too, when he told
her, as she poured his half-cold coffee, and then it passed from his
mind, until the following morning when he heard Mark Ray saying to a
client who had asked when Mr. Cameron would probably return:

"If he does not come to-day, we shall telegraph for him, as his wife is
very sick."

Then Tom remembered how white and haggard Katy's face had looked, and
many times that day his mind recurred to Katy Cameron, whom in his
boyish way he had admired as something supernaturally beautiful, and
who, in her own room at home, lay burning with fever, and talking of
Silverton, of Linwood, of baby, of Genevra, and of Wilford.

Morris had seen her safely to her own door, and then thinking she would
do best alone for a time, he left her on the steps, after having rung
the bell and seen that the ring was answered.

It was Esther who met her, expressing much concern at her appearance,
and asking why she did not stay at Father Cameron's instead of coming
home this cold raw day.

Hardly knowing what she did, Katy motioned Esther to her after reaching
her room, and whispered:

"I have not been to Father Cameron's. I had business somewhere else, but
you must not tell. I am in trouble, Esther, or rather, I have been. I
guess it's over now. You are a good girl, and I can trust you. There's
a letter in that drawer, please bring it to me."

Either complied, and Katy held in her hand the letter left for Wilford.
It had not been opened. It must never be opened now, and holding it
until a fire was kindled in the grate, she tossed it into the flames,
watching it as it crispened and blackened upon the glowing coals.

The quick-witted Esther saw that something was wrong, and traced it
readily to Wilford, whose exacting nature she thoroughly understood. She
had not been blind during the two years and a half she had been Katy's
maid, and no impatient word of Wilford's, or frown upon his face, had
escaped her when occurring in her presence, while Katy's uniform
sweetness and entire submission to his will had been noted as well, so
that in Esther's opinion Wilford was a domestic ty