't brought up to work; I like good clothes, and you know it
better than anybody. I ain't one of your stage heroines that go out as
dependants and governesses and die of consumption, but I thought," she
went on with a shrill, hysterical laugh, more painful than the weariness
which inevitably followed it, "I thought I might train myself to do it,
ON THE STAGE! and I joined Barker's Company. They said I had a face
and figure for the stage; that face and figure wore out before I had
anything more to show, and I wasn't big enough to make better terms with
the manager. They kept me nearly a year doing chambermaids and fairy
queens the other side of the footlights, where I saw you today. Then I
kicked! I suppose I might have married some fool for his money, but I
was soft enough to think you might be sending for me when you were safe.
You seem to be mighty comfortable here," she continued, with a bitter
glance around his handsomely furnished room, "as 'Don Diego Smith.' I
reckon skedaddling pays better than staying behind."

"I have only been here a few weeks," he said hurriedly. "I never knew
what had become of you, or that you were still here"--

"Or you wouldn't have come," she interrupted, with a bitter laugh.
"Speak out, Jim."

"If there--is anything--I can do--for you," he stammered, "I'm sure"--

"Anything you can do?" she repeated, slowly and scornfully. "Anything
you can do NOW? Yes!" she screamed, suddenly rising, crossing the
room, and grasping his arms convulsively. "Yes! Take me away from
here--anywhere--at once! Look, Jim," she went on feverishly, "let
bygones be bygones--I won't peach! I won't tell on you--though I had it
in my heart when you gave me the go-by just now! I'll do anything you
say--go to your farthest hiding-place--work for you--only take me out of
this cursed place."

Her passionate pleading stung even through his selfishness and loathing.
He thought of his wife's indifference! Yes, he might be driven to
this, and at least he must secure the only witness against his previous
misconduct. "We will see," he said soothingly, gently loosening her
hands. "We must talk it over." He stopped as his old suspiciousness
returned. "But you must have some friends," he said searchingly, "some
one who has helped you."

"None! Only one--he helped me at first," she hesitated--"Duffy."

"Duffy!" said James Smith, recoiling.

"Yes, when he had to tell me all," she said in half-frightened tones,
"he was sorry