"If we agree upon terms of silence, will you promise never to molest me again? Not even if I marry another man!" "I promise! And I pity the fellow who gets you, if you treat him as you did me!" "The less you say on that subject the better! Do not forget that you persuaded an innocent schoolgirl into a secret marriage, that she was bound to repent when she came to her sober senses," she cried bitterly. "But there, it is too late now for recriminations. I hoped you were dead, but, since you are not, I wish only to be rid of you!" "You can buy my silence!" replied Carlos Cisneros, so calmly that she congratulated herself, thinking: "He is not going to be dangerous, after all." Aloud, she said: "I will arrange to send you a monthly allowance of fifty dollars, the best I can do for you! Will that satisfy your greed?" "It is very little, but I will accept it," he replied sullenly. "Very well; now leave me, if you can do so without attracting the driver's attention. I shall be leaving the carriage at the next corner," she said, and he obeyed her, springing lightly to the ground, and disappearing. "He was not very violent, thank goodness!" sighed Roma, believing that as long as she paid him he would not betray her dangerous secrets; but bitterly chagrined that he was not dead, as she had believed so long. "Perhaps I can compass that later!" she thought darkly, as she gave the order to the driver for Commonwealth Avenue. She had determined to call on Lyde Carrington, with whom she had a society acquaintance, in the hope of seeing Jesse Devereaux again. Mrs. Carrington received her with graceful cordiality, and Roma proceeded to make herself irresistible, in the hope of getting an invitation to remain a few days. "I shall have to remain in Boston several days to have my teeth treated by a dentist, but mamma is compelled to return to Cliffdene to-night. I think of sending for my maid to cheer my loneliness," she said. "Come and stay with me," cried Lyde, falling into the trap. She knew that Jesse had been engaged to the dashing heiress, and amiably thought that their near proximity to each other might effect a reconciliation. She had a shrewd suspicion of Roma's object in coming; but she did not disapprove of it; she was so anxious to see him married to the proper person, a rich girl in their own set. She knew he was romantic at heart, and secretly feared he might make a mésalliance. But even while she was thinking these thoughts she remembered Liane, and said to herself: "If my pretty glove girl were rich and well-born, I should choose her above all others as a bride for my handsome brother!" CHAPTER XXVII. WHEN HAPPINESS SEEMED NEAR! Granny Jenks, after great bustling about and clattering of dishes, sat down at last to copious draughts of strong tea, flavored with whisky. "Oh, granny, aren't you taking a drop too much?" ventured Liane apprehensively.