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"Mr van der Luyden," the butler continued, "is in, sir; buthis nap or else reading yesterday's Evening Post I heard hi, that he intended to look through the Evening Post after luncheon; if you like, sir, I o to the library door and listen--"

But Archer, thanking hio and meet the ladies; and the butler, obviously relieved, closed the door on hirooh the park to the high-road The village of Skuytercliff was only a mile and a half away, but he knew that Mrs van der Luyden never walked, and that he e Presently, however, coht of a slight figure in a red cloak, with a big dog running ahead He hurried forward, and Madame Olenska stopped short with a smile of welcome

"Ah, you've come!" she said, and drew her hand froay and vivid, like the Ellen Mingott of old days; and he laughed as he took her hand, and answered: "I ca away from"

Her face clouded over, but she answered: "Ah, well--you will see, presently"

The answer puzzled hied her shoulders, with a little hter tone: "Shall alk on? I'm so cold after the sermon And what does it matter, now you're here to protect me?"

The blood rose to his teht a fold of her cloak "Ellen--what is it? You must tell me"

"Oh, presently--let's run a race first:up the cloak she fled away across the snow, the dog leaping about her with challenging barks For a hted by the flash of the red ainst the snow; then he started after her, and they , at a wicket that led into the park

She looked up at him and smiled "I knew you'd come!"

"That shows you wanted me to," he returned, with a disproportionate joy in their nonsense The white glitter of the trees filled the air with its own htness, and as they walked on over the snow the ground see under their feet

"Where did you come from?" Madame Olenska asked