Part 67 (1/2)

She stood despairing Only one as now left, and that lay through the hall-door itself

Suddenly, as she stood there, she heard footsteps A figure caht toward her There was not the slightest chance of concealht crouch

She must stand, then, and take the consequences Or, rather, would it not be better to walk forward and meet this new-comer? Yes; that would be best She determined to do so

So, with a quiet, slow step she walked back through the long corridor

About half-way she met the other He stopped and started back

”Miss Potts!” he exclaimed, in surprise

It was the voice of Philips

”Ah, Philips,” said she, quietly, ”I a about for exercise and amusement I can not sleep Don't be startled It's only me”

Philips stood like one paralyzed

”Don't be cast down,” he said at last, in a tre voice ”You have friends, powerful friends They will save you”

”What do you mean?” asked Beatrice, in wonder

”Never ht I dare not tell But cheer up”

”What do you mean by friends?”

”You have friends who are more powerful than your enemies, that's all,”

said Philips, hurriedly ”Cheer up”

Beatrice wondered A vague thought of Brandon caht gave her a delicious joy, and at once dispelled the extreitation which had thus far disturbed her Could Philips be connected with _hi the course of his gloohts which flashed across her mind as she stood

”I don't understand,” said she, at last; ”but I hope it may be as you say God knows, I need friends!”

She walked away, and Philips also went onward She walked slowly, until at last his steps died out in the distance Then a door banged

Evidently she had nothing to fear from him At last she reached the hts froh the door The grand entrance lay before her There was the door of the hall, the only way of escape that now re Two alternatives lay before her--to go back to her own rooo back was as repulsive as death, in fact more so If the choice had been placed full before her then, to die on the spot or to go back to her rooht of returning, therefore, was the last upon which she could dwell, and that of going foras the only one left To this she gave her attention

At last she made up her mind, and advanced cautiously, close by the wall, toward the hall-door After a ti-room Could she venture to pass it, and how? She paused She listened There were low voices in the room Then they were still awake, still able to detect her if she passed the door

She looked all around The hall ide On the opposite side the as but feebly lighted The hall lights had been put out, and those which shone from the room extended forward but a short distance It was just possible therefore to escape observation by crossing the doorway along the wall that was most distant from it

Yet before she tried this she ventured to put forward her head so as to peep into the room She stooped low and looked cautiously and slowly

The three were there at the farthest end of the roolasses stood before the in low tones Those tones, however, were not so low but that they reached her ears They were speaking about _her_

”How could she have found it out?” said Clark