mbling, my dear!"

He took hold of her wrist, and held it while she lit his cigar. And his
dry, firm fingers seemed to send her some strength.

"If only I had as little to be ashamed of as he has!" she thought, with
a sort of writhing despair.

And she longed, as never before, for an easy conscience.

"I've had rather a trying time just lately," she said. "Come and sit
down. Will you drink something?"

"Not yet, thank you."

He sat down in an arm-chair and crossed his legs, putting the right leg
over the left, as he always did. She was on her sofa, leaning on her
left arm, and looking at him. She was trying to read him, to read his
whole character, to force her way to his secret, that she might be
sure how much she might dare. Could he ever turn against her? Was that
possible? His kind, dark eyes were fixed upon her. Could they ever look
unkindly at her? She could scarcely believe that they could. But she
knew that in human nature few things are impossible. Such terrible
changes can take place in a moment. And the mystery is never really
solved.

"Well, my dear, would you like to tell me what is troubling you? Perhaps
I can do something."

"I want you to do something for me. Or rather--it would really be for
somebody else. You remember Beryl Van Tuyn?"

"The daffodil girl--yes."

"She has been here to-night. She is in a great difficulty. By the way,
of course she knows about my consulting you. I told her I would do it."

"I did not suppose you would give away a confidence."

"No! Seymour, has it ever struck you that there is something in you
and in me which is akin in spite of the tremendous differences in our
natures?"

"Oh yes."

"I'm glad. I like to feel that and--and I want you to feel it."

"I do. I feel it strongly."

"Whatever happens it would always be there."

"Yes, of course."

"It helps you to understand me, I expect."

"Surely it must."

"I wonder if you could ever--"

"What is it, Adela?"

"I wonder if you could ever turn against me."

"I don't think that is very likely," he said.

She looked at him. He was smiling.

"But--could nothing cause you to change towards me?"

"Some things might cause me to change towards anyone."

"Ah!"

"But as they are not in your nature we need not consider them."

"But how do you know?"

"I do know."

"But--what?"

"I know what you might do, or may have done. I know just as well what
you have never done and could never do."

"But