"We never met before. The servant did not bring you any name, for I have none. I am a woman of no name." "A woman with no name!" cried Maud, with a feeble attempt at a smile. There was no provocation for smiles in the words or manner of the unknown, and Maud felt uneasy. "Yes; I once had an honourable name, and was connected with honourable people who bore it. But that name was dishonoured by one who owned it, and the name died. My name would not live dishonoured." The voice was firm and hard still, and the original pose unbroken. "I am sorry for that," murmured Maud, not knowing anything else to say. What a contrast between this unknown visitor and the former! And yet, although a strong contrast appeared, there was a subtler similarity. "And I am sorry for you." Maud started and repeated: "Sorry for me! Why are you sorry for me?" "Because you are young. I used once, until lately, to think it a privilege to be young; now I consider it a privilege to be very old or dead." Maud felt more and more uncomfortable. This was not a cheerful way of looking at things. Maud had quite enough unpleasant matters to occupy her mind, and she was quite unstrung. What business had this woman with her? She would try. She spoke somewhat tremulously: "Can I be of any use to you?" "No. Nor can I be of much to you." "To me!" said Maud in surprise. "I hope no one has been asking you to do anything unreasonable for me. Of course, as I did not know you until now, and never heard your name, you will excuse my not thanking you for what you may have done for me." "I have done nothing for you but evil." "Evil! I assure you you must be mistaken. No one has done me harm, as far as I know." "But there may be evil you do not know of, and I may have been the innocent cause of it." "But if you were innocent you must not trouble yourself about it; and besides, whatever the harm was, it has not hurt me, so that you must make your mind easy." "The evil may be done, and yet unfelt, and may be felt later on, and the evil may not be done yet." "I do not clearly understand you." "I do not intend you should. I do not know why I have spoken so much. I cannot say more. I have merely called to deliver into your hands a parcel of some consequence. The contents of this parcel is yours. I said I cannot do much for you. I can do no more than give you this. You must promise me not to open this parcel until to-morrow morning. You need not be afraid of it. The things in it are good things. You promise?" The woman held out her hand with a small parcel in it. "Yes," answered Maud, taking the parcel. At that moment the door opened, and a voice said: "I beg your pardon, Miss Midharst; I did not know there was anyone here." Maud turned round, and saw Henry Walter Grey smiling and bowing in the doorway. With the handle of the door still in his hand, he took a backward step, when the old woman said: "Come in. I have finished with Miss Midharst."