dragging her feet as if they were powerless to move, the
girl entered the warm and cheerful room, but at her entrance
understanding seemed to give her strength. With a shuddering,
shivering, indrawing breath she drew back and leaned against the
door-frame.

"I must go. I--I can't come in there. I'm better now. I must go."

"You can't go." Selwyn's voice was decisive. "You'll be all right
presently, but you'll have to--to rest, first." Firmly she was led
to the couch and pushed upon it. Taking the medicine from my hands,
he held it to her lips. "Take this."

Hesitating, partly defiant, partly afraid, the girl raised her eyes
to his. Then, with hand that shook badly, she took the glass and
drank part of its contents, the rest was spilled in her lap.

"If it were prussic acid I'd be glad to drink it." The voice was
bitter, and again the eyes, pale yet burning, were raised to his, and
in them was what seemed frightened but guarded recognition. Quickly
she dropped them and glanced around the room, as though looking for
escape, and again her hands made convulsive pressure, again she
started to get up.

"I must go. I tell you, I must. I--I can't stay here."

"Very well." Mrs. Mundy looked toward Selwyn and away from me.
"When you're steady you can go. Mr. Thorne will telephone for a cab
and I will take you--home."

"Oh no!" The girl's face became the pallor that frightens, and on
either side of her a hand was dug in the couch on which she was
sitting. "I'm all right now. I don't want a cab. I just want to
go, and by myself. Please let me go!"

The last words were lost in a sob, and coming close to her I sat
beside her, and, putting my hand on her face, turned it slightly that
I might better see the big, black bruise on her forehead, partly
hidden by the loose, dark curls which fell across it. Her hair was
short and thick and parted on the side, giving her a youthful, boyish
look that was in odd contrast to the sudden terror in her eyes, and
for the first time I saw how slight and frail she was, saw that about
her which baffled and puzzled me, and which I could not analyze. She
wore no hat, and the red scarf around her neck was the only touch of
color in her otherwise dark dress. The lips of her large, sweet,
sensuous mouth were as colorless as her face.

"You have been hurt." I put my hand on her trembling ones. "Did
some one strike you or did you fall?"

She shook her head and drew her h