Dudleigh rose to go.

"In six or eight weeks," said he, "I hope to come again. I shall never
forget you, but day and night I shall be planning for your happiness."

He took her hand as he said this. Edith noticed that the hand which held
hers was as cold as ice. He raised her hand and pressed it to his lips.

Soon after he left.

* * * * *




CHAPTER XXVI.


A THREATENING LETTER.

On the day after the departure of Dudleigh, Edith found a letter lying
on her table. It was addressed to her in that stiff, constrained hand
which she knew so well as belonging to that enemy of her life and of her
race--John Wiggins. With some curiosity as to the motive which he might
have in thus writing to her, she opened the letter, and read the
following:

"DEAR MISS DALTON,--I feel myself incapable of sustaining another
interview with you, and I am therefore reduced to the necessity of
writing.