He gathered her close to his bosom, and the lawyer was amazed at the confiding manner in which she nestled her head against the stranger's shoulder. Mrs. Lindsay untied and removed the hat and veil, and, placing a glass of water to the parched trembling lips, softly kissed her tearful cheek, and whispered: "Now, dear, try to compose yourself. Come with me and bathe your face, and then you will feel better." "Don't take me away. I have stopped crying. It rests me so, to feel somebody's arms around me." "Well--suppose you try my arms awhile? I assure you they are quite ready to take you in, and hug you close. Just let me show you how I put my arms around my own child, though he is a man. Come, dear." Mrs. Lindsay gently disengaged the clasped hands resting on her brother's neck, and drew Regina into her arms, while, won by her sweet voice and soft touch, the latter allowed herself to be led into another room. They had scarcely disappeared when Mr. Palma said: "I find I was mistaken in supposing that you and your ward were strangers." "We are strangers, at least I never saw her until to-day." "Did you mesmerize her?" "Not that I am aware of. What suggests such an idea?" "She receives your friendly overtures so graciously, and rejected mine with such chill politeness. I presume you are aware of the fact that we have a joint guardianship over this child?" "If you will walk into the library, where we can escape intrusion, I should like to have some confidential conversation with you." When he had placed his visitor in his own easy chair, and locked the door of the library, Mr. Hargrove sat down beside the oval table, and, folding his hands before him, leaned forward scrutinizing the handsome non-committal face of the stranger, and conjecturing how far he would be warranted in unburdening his own oppressed heart. Coolly impassive, and without a vestige of curious interest, the lawyer quietly met his incisive gaze. "Mr. Palma, may I ask whether Regina's mother has unreservedly communicated her history to you?" "She has acquainted me with only a few facts, concerning which she desired legal advice." "Has she given you her real name?" "I know her only as Madame Odille Orphia Orme, an actress of very remarkable beauty and great talent." "Do you understand the peculiar circumstances that attended her marriage?" "I merely possess her assurance that she was married by you." "Have you been informed who is Regina's father?" "The name has always been carefully suppressed, but she told me that Orme was merely an _alias_." "Have you ever suspected the truth?" "Really, that is a question I cannot answer. I have at times conjectured, but only in a random unauthorized way. I should very much like to know, but my client declined giving me all the facts, at least at present; and while her extreme reticence certainly hampers me, it prevents me from asking you for the information, which she promises ere long to give me."