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nevertheless, be a year of continuous fear for Melicent.

    She wondered if it would not be best to leave at once. The five thousand dollars was a small inducement in the face of the facts. Nothing could repay her for the nightly vigils that lay ahead. She thought that it might be best for her to give up the idea of staying, to go back to the city, and to look again for a humble, commonplace and safe job at fifteen dollars a week. She might have done so if she had had more time in which to consider. But though it frightened her, it fascinated her and then events shaped themselves so rapidly that she was involved in them and carried away by them before she could come to a decision.

    Her mind was numb with doubt and half paralyzed with the shadowy vision of possible disaster which the letter had revealed when she left her room.

    Miss Cornwall was sitting in the breakfast room. In front of her was a cup of coffee, which was untouched. Sunlight streamed upon the elderly lady and broad lawns were visible through the windows. Under any other circumstances the setting and the day would have enchanted Melicent. Miss Cornwall's searching eyes studied the girl.

    "Did you sleep well?"

    Melicent found herself replying in a commonplace tone. "Quite well, thank you."

    "Sit down. I should imagine you slept very little." The older woman's smile was dry. "Various employees of mine who have previously undergone the same experience have found it something of an ordeal at first. You must forgive me for it. You may think that I seem to exercise an undue caution in what we will call all my habits of living. You must learn to accept it as an old woman's fears. Suppose we do not mention it any more. I have other similar attributes, such as overseeing all my own cooking. You will learn to ignore them because they are quite harmless."

    Melicent did not reply. She took her place at the opposite side of the breakfast table and began to eat an orange. It would not do to tell Miss Cornwall that she had read the letter from her nephew and that she knew exactly why Miss Cornwall took such precautions for the security of her life. Even if she decided to quit her bizarre job, it would be better never to give her complete reasons for doing so.

    Miss Cornwall spoke again. "I have a guest coming to-day--my brother Everitt. I sent for him to discuss some family business."

    Melicent knew what business Miss Cornwall intended to discuss with her brother Everitt, but her face was noncommittal. "I see," she said.

    "He will arrive about eleven o'clock, I believe. You will find him a rather interesting person."

    "I will be very glad to meet him."

    There was an interval of silence, during which the dishes were cleared away and the substantial part of the meal was served. Melicent had an opportunity to reflect how much she would have enjoyed life at Blackcroft without this somber background. She could never enjoy it. The lawns, the woods, the sunshine, the beautiful things in the house, the perfect service were now merely incidents of routine.

    Miss Cornwall drank a little of her coffee. "A few other friends are rather constant visitors here. I am interested in ancient cultures, particularly Greek culture, and I hope some day to be able to found a university which would perpetually propagate my views and ideals. A Professor Coleman, who is an old and very dear friend of mine, shares my loyalty to the grandeur which was Greece, and in the event that I am able some day to endow such a university, I shall put him at the head of it. You will meet him here."

    "I see," Melicent replied. "He must also be a very interesting person."

    That ended the breakfast conversation. Soon afterward Miss Cornwall left the table and Melicent, after finishing her coffee, followed her from the room.

    Miss Cornwall, however, had vanished and Melicent could not find her downstairs. All the rooms were large and empty and silent. After a half hour had passed and she had not been