"You will be my kind faithful guardian a little while longer, until I can hear from mother; but we shall never be any more closely related."
The reply was not exactly what he expected and desired; but with his chill, out-door conventional smile he added:
"Poor Roscoe! his heart frequently outstrips his reason."
Looking at him, she felt assured that no one could ever justly make that charge against him; and unwilling to prolong the interview, she rose.
"Pardon me, if, notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, I detain you a few minutes from your Undine dreams. Be so good as to resume your seat."
There was an ominous pause, and reluctantly she was forced to look up.
He was regarding her very sternly, and as his eyes caught and held hers he put his fingers in his vest pocket, drawing therefrom a narrow strip of paper, folded carefully. Holding it out, he asked:
"Did you ever see this?"
Before she opened it she knew it contained the address she had given to Peleg Peterson on Tuesday, and a shiver crept over her. Mechanically glancing at it, she sighed; a sigh that was almost a moan.
"Regina, have the courtesy to answer my question."