him enter, which, of course, he was able to do with his key, and
she told him in French, which Martha did not understand, to send
the porters there immediately, and have her luggage consigned to
the care of the servant who would be waiting in the passage. This
person would give orders for its destination. The waiter bowed
obsequiously. Had he not been already heavily tipped by this
intelligent Ivan, and instructed instantly to obey the orders of
mademoiselle?"

"It is much better I am before them," Stella thought to herself,
while Martha looked on in rageful bafflement.

"The porters will come up and take the trunks outside, Martha,"
Miss Rawson said. "You can give them what orders aunt told you
to."

Such was her supreme confidence in the methods of her lover that
she felt sure once Ivan was apprised of the fact by the waiter
that the trunks would be consigned to him it would not matter what
Martha said to the porters! So she calmly sat down by the window
and folded her hands, while the elderly maid fumed with the
uncertainty of what she ought to do. And in a few moments the men
appeared, and smilingly seemed to understand the gestures and
English orders of Martha to take the trunks to the door of Madam
Ebley, number 325, round the corner of the passage and on the
opposite side.

They nodded their heads wisely and carried the box out, shutting
the door after them, and then there was silence for a while; and
Stella half-dozed in her chair, it was so warm and peaceful by the