it is not such repentance God accepts, Wilford had only
begun to sip the cup of retribution presented to his lips.

Worn out with watching and waiting, Mrs. Cameron, who would suffer
neither Juno nor Bell to come near the house, waited uneasily for the
arrival of the New Haven train, which she hoped would bring Helen to her
aid. Under ordinary circumstances she would rather not have met her,
for her presence would keep the letter so constantly in her mind, but
now anybody who could be trusted was welcome, and when at last there
came a cautious ring she went herself to the hall, starting back with
undisguised vexation when she saw the timid-looking woman following
close behind Helen, and whom the latter presented as "My mother, Mrs.
Lennox."

Convinced that Morris' sudden journey to New York had something to do
with Katy's illness, and almost distracted with fears for her daughter's
life, Mrs. Lennox could not remain at home and wait for the tardy mail
or careless telegraph. She must go to her child, and casting off her
dread of Wilford's displeasure, she had come with Helen, and was bowing
meekly to Mrs. Cameron, who neither offered her hand nor gave any token
of greeting except a distant bow and a simple "Good-morning, madam."

But Mrs. Lennox was too timid, too bewildered, and too anxious to notice
the lady's haughty manner as she led them to the library and then went
for her son. Wilford was not glad to see his mother-in-law, but he tried
to be polite, answering her questions civilly, and when she asked if it
was true that he had sent for Morris, assuring her that it was not--"Dr.
Grant happened here very providentially, and I hope to keep him until
the crisis is past, although he has just told me he must go back
to-morrow," Wilford said, mentally hoping Mrs. Lennox might think it
best to go with him, or if she did not, wondering how long she did
intend to stay. It hurt his pride that she, whom he considered greatly
his inferior, should learn his secret; but it could not now be helped,
and within an hour after her arrival she was looking curiously at him
for an explanation of the strange things she heard from Katy's lips.

"Was you a widower when you married my daughter?" she said to him, when
at last Helen left the room, and she was alone with him.

"Yes, madam," he replied, "some would call me so, though I was divorced
from my wife. As this was a matter which did not in any way concern your
daughter, I deemed