from his seat, and, with a certain formal courtesy that had been
wanting in his previous manner, handed her his pen and arranged his
chair for her at the desk. She took the pen, and rapidly appended
her signature to the paper. The others followed; and, obedient to
a sign from him, the porter was summoned from the outer office to
witness the signatures. When this was over, the Mayor turned to
his secretary. "That's all just now, Paul."

Accepting this implied dismissal with undisturbed gravity, the
newly made youthful guardian bowed and retired. When the green
baize door had closed upon him, the Mayor turned abruptly to the
woman with the paper in his hand.

"Look here, Kate; there is still time for you to reconsider your
action, and tear up this solitary record of it. If you choose to
do so, say so, and I promise you that this interview, and all you
have told us, shall never pass beyond these walls. No one will be
the wiser for it, and we will give you full credit for having
attempted something that was too much for you to perform."

She had half risen from her chair when he began, but fell back
again in her former position and looked impatiently from him to his
companion, who was also regarding her earnestly.

"What are you talking about?" she said sharply.

"YOU, Kate," said the Mayor. "You have given everything you
possess to this child. What provision have you made for yourself?"

"Do I look played out?" she said, facing them.