certain haughty pride which I fear will never be eliminated from my
nature, of the dangers I had already met with and overcome in my
brief but troubled life; and meeting his look with a smile which I
knew to contain a spice of audacity, I calmly waited for the words I
felt to be hovering upon his lips. They were scarcely the ones I
expected.

"Miss Sterling," said he, "you have seen Anice, my mother's waiting-
maid?"

I bowed. I was too much disconcerted to speak.

"And she has told you her story of my mother's illness?" he went on,
pitilessly holding me with his glance. "You need not answer," he
again proceeded, as I opened my lips. "I know Anice; she has not the
gift of keeping her thoughts to herself."

"An unfortunate thing in this house," I inwardly commented, and made
a determination on the spot that whatever emotions I might
experience from the mysteries surrounding me, this master of reserve
should find there was one who could keep her thoughts to herself,
even, perhaps, to his own secret disappointment and chagrin.

"She told you my mother was stricken at the sudden news of Mr.
Barrows' death?"

"That was told me," I answered; for this was a direct question, put,
too, with an effort I could not help but feel, notwithstanding the
evident wish on his part to preserve an appearance of calmness.