. One month, two months to themselves, they must have, and then"--
she straightened herself as in eager anticipation--"America! I must
take him back, Evelyn! Back to his old home, and his old friends--to
let them all see! Oh! all my life must be spent in making good the
shame I have brought upon him, the misery and blame!"

I laid a restraining touch on her arm.

"Remember you are not to grieve! You have promised. That is forbidden
ground!"

"Yes--yes, I know, but my heart, Evelyn! My heart will always
remember." She turned to me tenderly. "Darling girl! we talked about
you--it is through you that this happiness has come. We cannot be
parted. When we are settled in our new home we want you to come over,
to pay us a long, long visit. You could see your sister, too. You
would enjoy that?"

I felt a momentary rising of bitterness, a momentary impulse to say
caustically that it would indeed be soothing for a lonely woman to visit
two devoted married couples, but there was a wistful tone in her voice
which showed that she understood. I made a big effort to laugh
naturally, and made a vague promise. This was Charmion's night. I
should be a poor thing if I damped her joy!

"And about `Pastimes,'" she said slowly. "The agreement stands, of
course. I pay half expenses for the next three years. Live in it, lend
it, rent it as you think best. I should love best to think of you
living there, until you come to us. You could find some friend--"

"Oh, yes! I have made enough friends at the `Mansions' to keep me
supplied with visitors for months to come. _If_ I go back. But I'm not
sure. This has come upon me with a rush, Charmion. I shall have to sit
down, and think quietly. I shall see you again before you sail?"

"Of course." She looked at me with reproach. "You are the dearest
person in the world to me, Evelyn--except _one_. Do you suppose I could
leave England without seeing you again? We'll arrange a meeting
somewhere, and have a week together. You and I, and Mr Thorold, and
Edward." She turned a sudden scrutinising glance upon me. "Evelyn, I
have a haunting conviction that you are changed; that some man has come
into your life. You aren't by any possibility going to marry Wenham
Thorold?"

"Indeed I am not. He hasn't the faintest desire to marry me, or I to
marry him. We are excellent friends, but nothing more. I honestly
believe he regrets Miss Harding. You are growing too persona