nd to back me up, and you must come, Mr. Dunham; there's the car now."

John yielded to the inevitable. He remembered grimly one item of his
memoranda. "Follow Miss Lacey's lead."

Whatever of humor was in the situation was in abeyance. He had an
irritating consciousness that what should have been the problem of
these people had been shifted upon himself in a manner most unfair of
Fortune. The desolate face that he had left haunted his thoughts; and
the girl's pride and obstinacy in binding him to secrecy made the
coming interview awkward.

Judge Trent, all unsuspicious, was sitting in his study. He had slipped
on the dressing-gown with the indistinguishable pattern, and the rusty
slippers that his soul loved. His silk hat formed a shadow for his
eyes, and his big table was covered with a riot of books and papers.

At the moment chosen by his visitors for their entrance, the
down-trodden heels were also resting on the table as the judge leaned
back luxuriously in his desk chair and read the Boston papers.

Miss Lacey declined to allow Hannah to announce their visit.

"He might get out some back way," she declared to Dunham in a nervous
undertone. She had outraged the proprieties by coming, as she read in
the disapproving puckers around the old housekeeper's mouth. She was
not going now to have the name without the game.

The library door opened.

Judge Trent looked up vaguely, then frowningly, then brought down his
feet with a start.

"Good-evening," said Dunham; "we have come back."

Unexpected as was the sight of Miss Lacey in his sanctum, Judge Trent's
astonishment was merged in the apprehension of what might be beyond. He
looked over her shoulder with startled eyes as he arose.

Miss Martha understood. "No, indeed," she exclaimed, "she isn't here."

The host breathed a sigh of relief, and his sharp eyes began to
question Dunham while he collected himself sufficiently to bring
forward a chair for the lady.

"You honor me, Mar--Miss Lacey," he said.

"Thank you--Judge Trent," she returned, and giving his figure a
comprehensive glance from top to toe, she touched her bonnet
significantly as she sat down.

He did not observe the gesture. "Well," he said, resuming his seat and
waving Dunham to another, "so you have come to tell me of your success.
Very kind of you."

The speaker's endeavor to be courteous was offset by an impatient
drumming of his fingers on the desk and the drawing together of his
br