in, and hurried upstairs; but before she could turn the handle, Madelon's hollow little laugh reached her ear. Eden's heart beat fast, and her face was quite pale as she entered the

room.

Of course it was a ruse; Madelon's mocking smile told her that at once. She had made herself quite at home, and had laid aside her mantle. She was sitting in front of the fire, and Bonnie was kneeling beside her on the rug. Bonnie's cheeks were flushed as though she had been crying, but her eyes were full of excitement. Eden crossed the room, and looked at the intruder sternly.

"Mrs. Redford," she said indignantly, "I would not have believed this, even of you. How could you stoop to such deceit !"

Madelon threw back her head and laughed, though her mirth was forced.

My dear creature," she returned airily, "all is fair in love and war, and I was always clever at invention. What did I tell you?' where there's a will there's a way.' I determined to see my child, and I wished to see her alone, and I have achieved my purpose. We have

had our talk, have we not, my Bonnie? and we understand each other a little ;" and Madelon lightly tapped the girl's cheek. "Ma petite, you are your father's image; but you have not taken after me. Those are Cecil's eyes. Ah, poor Cecil, how adorable he used to look in his regimentals! 'Adonis Redford'—that was what they called him."

CHAPTER XXI

THE VOICE OF THE SIREN

"A thing devised by the enemy."

King Richard III.

"A hit, a very palpable hit."

Hamlet.

It was perfectly plain to Eden that Madelon was not at her ease-perhaps physical weakness was quenching her audacious spirit; but when she had finished her little speech, she sank back in her chair as though strength failed her. To Eden's eyes, experienced as she was in illness, Mrs. Redford looked thinner and more shrunken, and the hollows in her temples were still more noticeable.

Eden's tone was gentle when she spoke again. "Mrs. Redford, I must appeal to your sense of fairness; in Mr. Redford's absence I am responsible for Bonnie. Forgive me if I ask you

to leave us."

Madelon's lips twitched and grew white; but she did not answer for a moment, she seemed in great pain. Bonnie looked at her in alarm. ·

"You are ill, mother," she said anxiously. Then she cast a resentful glance at Eden. "Why do you want to turn my mother out of the house?" she asked angrily. "If Uncle Alick were here, he would not be so inhospitable. We are strangers, I know; but all the same, she is my mother, and you shall not ask her to go away!"

"Mon Dieu ! what a little spitfire!" exclaimed Madelon. "Petite-after all there is some Lefevre blood in you. But we must be reasonable, you and I, and perhaps our excellent Miss Lloyd is in the right. Listen to me, chérie. I must go now, for it is growing late. To-morrow, if it be fine, I will call for you, and we will have a drive together. We are good friends, are we not, my little Bonnie? and the past and its mistakes are nothing to us."

"No, of course not," broke in Bonnie, in her impetuous young voice. "To-morrow evening

Uncle Alick will

you have said.

be back, and I will tell him all

Do not fear, mother! I will

make him understand; he is so dear and good, and he always does the right thing. Oh! must you go?" and Bonnie put her arms affectionately round her mother's neck. Truly Madelon had used her time well, and Bonnie's honest young heart had already been won won by her subtle

fascination.

Madelon returned her kiss warmly. "Adieu-au revoir, my angel!" she said caressingly. "Remember your poor mother leaves her best interests in your hands. The wisdom of the serpent ’—take heed of that, my Bonnie; you must unite it with the innocence of the dove.' To-morrow we meet again ;" and then she glided swiftly out of the door. Perhaps she had forgotten Eden, for she vouchsafed her no parting word.

"Bonnie," exclaimed Eden, in an agitated tone, as the door closed on Madelon, "you must do nothing of the kind. I cannot allow you to hold any further intercourse with Mrs. Redford until your uncle returns. You must promise me, dear, that you will be guided by me in this."

"I will promise nothing of the kind,” returned Bonnie stubbornly. "You talk as though I were