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sleep is like the sleep of a dog； if you only approach him； he
wakes instantly。 Forgive me for troubling you with these trifling
details； only interesting to ourselves。 You will at least
understand the constant anxiety that we suffer。〃
〃In your unhappy position；〃 said Stella； 〃I should try to resign
myself to parting with himI mean to placing him under medical
care。〃
The mother's face saddened。 〃I have inquired about it；〃 she
answered。 〃He must pass a night in the workhouse before he can be
received as a pauper lunatic in a public asylum。 Oh； my dear； I
am afraid there is some pride still left in me！ He is my only son
now； his father was a General in the French army； I was brought
up among people of good blood and breedingI can't take my own
boy to the workhouse！〃
Stella understood her。 〃I feel for you with all my heart；〃 she
said。 〃Place him privately； dear Madame Marillac； under skillful
and kind controland let me； do let me； open the pocketbook
again。〃
The widow steadily refused even to look at the pocketbook。
〃Perhaps；〃 Stella persisted； 〃you don't know of a private asylum
that would satisfy you？〃
〃My dear； I do know of such a place！ The good doctor who attended
my husband in his last illness told me of it。 A friend of his
receives a certain number of poor people into his house； and
charges no more than the cost of maintaining them。 An
unattainable sum to _me！_ There is the temptation that I spoke
of。 The help of a few pounds I might accept； if I fell ill；
because I might afterward pay it back。 But a larger sumnever！〃
She rose； as if to end the interview。 Stella tried every means of
persuasion that she could think of； and tried in vain。 The
friendly dispute between them might have been prolonged； if they
had not both been silenced by another interruption from the next
room。
This time； it was not only endurable； it was even welcome。 The
poor boy was playing the air of a French vaudeville on a pipe or
flageolet。 〃Now he is happy！〃 said the mother。 〃He is a born
musician； do come and see him！〃 An idea struck Stella。 She
overcame the inveterate reluctance in her to see the boy so
fatally associated with the misery of Romayne's life。 As Madame
Marillac led the way to the door of communication between the
rooms； she quickly took from her pocketbook the bank…notes with
which she had provided herself； and folded them so that they
could be easily concealed in her hand。
She followed the widow into the little room。
The boy was sitting on his bed。 He laid down his flageolet and
bowed to Stella。 His long silky hair flowed to his shoulders。 But
one betrayal of a deranged mind presented itself in his delicate
facehis large soft eyes had the glassy； vacant look which it is
impossible to mistake。 〃Do you like music； mademoiselle？〃 he
asked； gently。 Stella asked him to play his little vaudeville air
again。 He proudly complied with the request。 His sister seemed to
resent the presence of a stranger。 〃The work is at a standstill；〃
she saidand passed into the front room。 Her mother followed her
as far as the door； to give her some necessary directions。 Stella
seized her opportunity。 She put the bank…notes into the pocket of
the boy's jacket； and whispered to him： 〃Give them to your mother
when I have gone away。〃 Under those circumstances； she felt sure
that Madame Marillac would yield to the temptation。 She could
resist muchbut she could not resist her son。
The boy nodded； to show that he understood her。 The moment after。
he laid down his flageolet with an expression of surprise。
〃You are trembling！〃 he said。 〃Are you frightened？〃
She _was_ frightened。 The mere sense of touching him had made her
shudder。 Did she feel a vague presentiment of some evil to come
from that momentary association with him？
Madame Marillac； turning away again from her daughter； noticed
Stella's agitation。 〃Surely； my poor boy doesn't alarm you？〃 she
said。 Before Stella could answer； some one outside knocked at the
door。 Lady Loring's servant appeared； charged with a
carefully…worded message。 〃If you please； miss； a friend is
waiting for you below。〃 Any excuse for departure was welcome to
Stella at that moment。 She promised to call at the house again in
a few days。 Madame Marillac kissed her on the forehead as she
took leave。 Her nerves were still shaken by that momentary
contact with the boy。 Descending the stairs； she trembled so that
she was obliged to hold by the servant's arm。 She was not
naturally timid。 What did it mean？
Lady Loring's carriage was waiting at the entrance of the street；
with all the children in the neighborhood assembled to admire it。
She impulsively forestalled the servant in opening the carriage
door。 〃Come in！〃 she cried。 〃Oh； Stella； you don't know how you
have frightened me！ Good heavens； you look frightened yourself！
From what wretches have I rescued you？ Take my smelling bottle；
and tell me all about it。〃
The fresh air； and the reassuring presence of her old friend；
revived Stella。 She was able to describe her interview with the
General's family； and to answer the inevitable inquiries which
the narrative called forth。 Lady Loring's last question was the
most important of the series： 〃What are you going to do about
Romayne？〃
〃I am going to write to him the moment we get home。〃
The answer seemed to alarm Lady Loring。 〃You won't betray me？〃
she said。
〃What do you mean？〃
〃You won't let Romayne discover that I have told you about the
duel？〃
〃Certainly not。 You shall see my letter before I send it to be
forwarded。〃
Tranquilized so far； Lady Loring bethought herself next of Major
Hynd。 〃Can we tell him what you have done？〃 her ladyship asked。
〃Of course we can tell him；〃 Stella replied。 〃I shall conceal
nothing from Lord Loring； and I shall beg your good husband to
write to the Major。 He need only say that I have made the
necessary inquiries； after being informed of the circumstances by
you； and that I have communicated the favorable result to Mr。
Romayne。〃
〃It's easy enough to write the letter； my dear。 But it's not so
easy to say what Major Hynd may think of you。〃
〃Does it matter to me what Major Hynd thinks？〃
Lady Loring looked at Stella with a malicious smile。 〃Are you
equally indifferent；〃 she said； 〃to what Romayne's opinion of
your conduct may be？〃