e to Mrs. Cotter. "You can't keep her,
can you?"

I shook my head. "She mustn't stay in town. The doctor says her
case is too advanced to be arrested, and the only thing that can be
done is to make her as comfortable and happy as possible until
she--can go--to her mother. I don't know what is best to be done. I
must be near enough to see her every now and then. Mr. Guard will
tell me what to do. Whenever I don't know I ask him. He always
helps me."

"Are you never to ask me to--help you?" Selwyn's voice was low, but
from his eyes was no escape, and as the light from the door which I
had opened with my latch-key fell upon his face I saw it flush--saw
in it what I had never seen before.

"You!" I was very tired, and something long held back struggled for
utterance. "You!" The word was half a sob. "If only you--"

Mrs. Mundy was coming down the hall, and at the door her hands went
out to take the child from Selwyn. "Bettina told me, and I thought
perhaps you'd bring the little creature here. I've got a place all
fixed. You are tired out." She turned to me, and then to Selwyn.
"Thank you, sir, for taking care of her--for going with her and
bringing her back. I'm sorry I wasn't here to do it myself. She's
needing of some one to look after her." Turning, she went down the
hall with the child in her arms, and Selwyn, also turning, walked
down the steps and got into the cab.

CHAPTER XXII

The one day in the year I heartily hate is the first day of January.
Yesterday was January first. Its usual effect is to make me feel as
the grate in my sitting-room looks when the fire is dead. Knowing
the day would get ahead of me if I did not get ahead of it, I decided
to give a party. Last night I gave it.

All through the busy rush of Christmas with its compelling demands I
have been trying not to think; trying to put from me memories that
come and go of Mrs. Cotter, of my disappointment in not hearing from
her where Etta Blake could be found, and my anxiety about little
Nora, now in the care of a woman I know well who lives just out of
town. The child will not be here next Christmas. Kitty is paying
for all her needs. She asked that I would let her the day before I
received Selwyn's note concerning Nora. I promised her first.

Mr. Crimm cannot find Etta Blake. She must have gone away.

In the past few weeks I have seen little of Selwyn. I have been a
bit more than busy with Christmas prepara