Her look excited the sufferer's alarm,
"Has anything happened, Mrs. Wade?"
"Hush! Try to command yourself. He is here again; wishes to see me."
"He is here again?"
Lilian rose to her feet, and moaned despairingly.
"You won't let him come into this room? What does he want? He told
us he would never come again. Is he seeking more money?"
"He sha'n't come in here. I'll see him as I did before."
As she spoke, a rat-tat sounded from without, and, having advised
Lilian to lock the door, Mrs. Wade crossed to the other room.
Northway entered, grave and nervous.
"I hope you will excuse my coming again," he began, as the widow
regarded him with silent interrogation. "You spoke to me last time
in such a very kind and friendly way. Being in a difficulty, I
thought I couldn't do better than ask your advice."
"What is the difficulty, Mr. Northway?"
Her suave tone reassured him, and he seated himself. His real
purpose in coming was to discover, if possible, whether Quarrier's
position was still unassailed. He had a vague sense that this Mrs.
Wade, on whatever grounds, was sympathetically disposed to him; by
strengthening the acquaintance, he might somehow benefit himself.
"First, I should like to know if all has gone smoothly since I went
away?"
"Smoothly?--Quite, I think."
"It still seems certain that Mr.
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