" she exclaimed, the moment I
was inside the door. "I ought to have published a 'personal,' or done
something to let him know I could not go to the post-office, and to
account for his not hearing from me."

"He has returned to the city?"

"Yes!" She fairly ground her teeth with rage at this "stupidity," as she
termed it. "He always does the very thing he ought never to have done,
and leaves undone the things most important to do. Of course he cannot
come here, and I can not go to him without incurring the greatest risk.
I really do not know what to do next."

Tears were now coursing down her pale cheeks--tears, it seemed, as much
of anger as of sorrow.

"Let him take care of himself," I said, rather hotly. "It is not your
province to care for him as you do."

She gave me an indescribable look. "What can you, what can any one know
about it? He may want money; how can he take care of himself in such
circumstances without money? I sent for you to contrive some plan by
which he can be communicated with. Do tell me at once what to do."

"How can I tell you, when, as you say, I do not know what is required.
You wish to see him, I presume?"

"How can I--O, I dislike so much to ask this of you--but _will_ you take
a message to him?" She asked this desperately, half expecting me to
decline, as decline I did.

"Miss Jorgensen, you are now able to ride. Shall I send a carriage for
you?"

"There may be those on the lookout who would instantly suspect my
purpose in going out in that way. On the contrary, nobody would suspect
you."

"Still, I might be observed, which would not be pleasant, I can imagine,
from what you leave me to surmise. No, Miss Jorgensen, much as I should
like to serve you personally, you must excuse me from connecting myself
in any way with Mr. Hurst; and if I might be allowed to offer advice, I
should say that, in justice to yourself, you ought to cut loose from him
at once."

Miss Jorgensen covered her face with one little emaciated hand, and sat
silent a few seconds. "Send me the carriage," she said, "and I will go."

"You forgive me?"

"You have been very good," she said. "I ought not have required more of
you. I will go at once; the sooner the better."

When I had reached the head of the stairs, I turned back again to her
door.

"Once more let me counsel you to free yourself from all connection with
Mr. Hurst. Why should you ruin your chances of happiness for one so
undeserving, as I mus