, as she was preparing her husband's
dinner. "Leaving me alone in the world was far worse to her than dying."

At that very moment a gaunt-looking woman, with a child in her arms,
stood in the twilight on the opposite side of the street, looking up at
the windows.

Chapter VII.

From Home to the Street

As the shadows of the gloomy March evening deepened, Alida lighted the
lamp, and was then a little surprised to hear a knock at the door. No
presentiment of trouble crossed her mind; she merely thought that one
of her neighbors on the lower floors had stepped up to borrow something.

"Come in!" she cried, as she adjusted the shade of the lamp.

A tall, thin, pale woman entered, carrying a child that was partly
hidden by a thin shawl, their only outer protection against the chill
winds which had been blustering all day. Alida looked at the stranger
inquiringly and kindly, expecting an appeal for charity. The woman
sank into a chair as if exhausted, and fixed her dark hollow eyes on
Mrs. Ostrom. She appeared consumed by a terrible curiosity.

Alida wondered at the strange chill of apprehension with which she
encountered this gaze. It was so intent, so searching, yet so utterly
devoid of a trace of good will. She began gently, "Can I do anything
for you?"

For a moment or two longer there was no response other than the same
cold, questioning scrutiny, as if, instead of a sweet-faced woman,
something monstrously unnatural was present. At last, in slow, icy
utterance, came the words, "So you are--HER!"

"Is this woman insane?" thought Alida. "Why else does she look at me
so? Oh, that Wilson would come! I'm sorry for you, my good woman,"
she began kindly. "You are laboring under some mistake. My husband--"

"YOUR husband!" exclaimed the stranger, with an indescribable accent of
scorn and reproach.

"Yes," replied Alida with quiet dignity. "MY husband will be home soon
and he will protect me. You have no right to enter my rooms and act as
you do. If you are sick and in trouble, I and my husband--"

"Please tell me, miss, how he became YOUR husband?"

"By lawful marriage, by my pastor."

"We'll soon see how LAWFUL it was," replied the woman, with a bitter
laugh. "I'd like you to tell me how often a man can be married
lawfully."

"What do you mean?" cried Alida, with a sudden flash in her blue eyes.
Then, as if reproaching herself, she added kindly, "Pardon me. I see
you are not well. You do n