SEALED INSTRUCTIONS After the guests had gone away to dress Portlaw looked inquiringly at Malcourt and said: "That misdeal may have been a slip.

I begin to believe I was mistaken after all.

What do you think, Louis ?" Malcourt's eyes wandered toward his wife who still bent low over her sewing.

"I don't think," he said absently, and sauntered over to Shiela, saying: "It's rather dull for you, isn't it ?" She made no reply until Portlaw had gone upstairs; then looking around at him: "Is there any necessity for me to sit here while you play cards this evening ?" "No, if it doesn't amuse you." Amuse her! She rested her elbow on the window ledge, and, chin on hand, stared out into the gray world of rain--the world that had been so terribly altered for her for ever.

In the room shadows were gathering; the dull light faded.