ement is
a secret between us. Neither of us can afford to have anyone know it."

"There isn't anyone in the world who wouldn't misunderstand it," said
she, without the least feeling of embarrassment.

"Just so," said he. "And I want you to live in such a way that I can
come to call. We must arrange things so that you will take your own
name--"

"I intend to use the name Mary Stevens in my work," she interrupted.

"But there mustn't be any concealment, any mystery to excite curiosity
and scandal--"

This time the interruption was her expression. He turned to see what
had startled her, and saw in the doorway of the drawing-room the
grotesquely neat and stylish figure of the little general. Before
either could speak he said:

"How d'you do, Mr. Baird? You'll pardon me if I ask you to leave me
alone with my WIFE."

Stanley met the situation with perfect coolness. "How are you,
General?" said he. "Certainly, I was just going." He extended his
hand to Mildred, said in a correct tone of conventional friendliness,
"Then you'll let me know when you're settled?" He bowed, moved toward
the door, shook hands with the general, and passed out, giving from
start to finish a model example of a man of the world extricating
himself from an impossible situation and leaving it the better for his
having been entangled. To a man of Siddall's incessant and clumsy
self-consciousness such unaffected ease could not but be proof positive
of Mildred's innocence--unless he had overheard. And his first words
convinced her that he had not. Said he:

"So you sent for your old admirer?"

"I ran across him accidentally," replied Mildred.

"I know," said the little general. "My men picked you up at the pier
and haven't lost sight of you since. It's fortunate that I've kept
myself informed, or I might have misunderstood that chap's being here."
A queer, cloudy look came into his eyes. "I must give him a warning
for safety's sake." He waved his hand in dismissal of such an
unimportant trifle as the accidental Baird. He went on, his wicked
eyes bent coldly and dully upon her: "Do you know what kind of a house
this is?"

"Stanley Baird urged me to leave," replied she. "But I shall stay until
I find a better--and that's not easy."

"Yes, my men have reported to me on the difficulties you've had. It
was certainly fortunate for you that I had them look after you.
Otherwise I'd never have understood your landing in this sort of