"No, Major Willard, I thank you," she said, on his making a movement

to accompany her. She spoke very positively.

"I cannot see you go home unattended." And the major bowed with

graceful politeness.

"Oh no," said Mrs. Talbot. "You must not leave my house alone.

Major, I shall expect you to attend my young friend."

It was in vain that Mrs. Emerson objected and remonstrated, the

gallant major would listen to nothing; and so, perforce, she had to

yield. After handing her into the carriage, he spoke a word or two

in an undertone to the driver, and then entering, took his place by

her side.

Mrs. Emerson felt strangely uncomfortable and embarrassed, and

shrunk as far from her companion as the narrow space they occupied

would permit; while he, it seemed to her, approached as she receded.

There was a different tone in his voice when he spoke as the

carriage moved away from any she had noticed heretofore. He drew his

face near to hers in speaking, but the rattling of the wheels made

hearing difficult. He had, during the evening, referred to a star

actress then occupying public attention, of whom some scandalous

things had been said, and declared his belief in her innocence. To

Mrs. Emerson's surprise--almost disgust--his first remark after they

were seated in the carriage was about this actress. Irene did not

respond to his remark.

"Did you ever meet her in private circles?" he next inquired.

"No, sir," she answered, coldly.

"I have had that pleasure," said Major Willard.

There was no responsive word.

"She is a most fascinating woman," continued the major. "That

Juno-like beauty which so distinguishes her on the stage scarcely

shows itself in the drawing-room. On the stage she is queenly--in

private, soft, voluptuous and winning as a houri. I don't wonder

that she has crowds of admirers."

The major's face was close to that of his companion, who felt a wild

sense of repugnance, so strong as to be almost suffocating. The

carriage bounded as the wheels struck an inequality in the street,

throwing them together with a slight concussion. The major laid his

hand upon that of Mrs. Emerson, as if to support her. But she

instantly withdrew the hand he had presumed to touch. He attempted

the same familiarity again, but she placed both hands beyond the

possibility of accidental or designed contact with his, and shrank

still closer into the corner of the carriage, while her heart

fluttered and a tremor ran through her frame.

Major Willard spoke again of the actress, but Mrs. Emerson made no

reply.

"Where are we going?" she asked, after the lapse of some ten

minutes, glancing from the window and seeing, instead of the tall

rows of stately houses which lined the streets along the whole

distance between Mrs. Talbot's residence and her own house,

mean-looking tenements.




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