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I SEEK HELP.
A bad night, a very bad night, but for all that I was down early the next morning.

Bess must have her box and I a breath of fresh air before breakfast, to freshen me up a bit and clear my mind for the decisive act, since my broken rest had failed to refresh me.
As I reached the parlor floor Nixon came out of the reception-room.
"Oh, Miss!" he exclaimed, "going out ?" surprised, doubtless, to see me in my hat and jacket.
"A few steps," I answered, and then stopped, not a little disturbed; for in moving to open the door he had discovered that the key was not in it and was showing his amazement somewhat conspicuously.
"Mrs.Packard took the key up to her room," I explained, thinking that some sort of explanation was in order.

"She is nervous, you know, and probably felt safer with it there." The slow shake of his head had a tinge of self-reproach in it.
"I was sorry to go out," he muttered.

"I was very sorry to go out,"-- but the look which he turned upon me the next minute was of a very different sort.