while there is life
there is hope--that love may bloom again. Peace be with them."

CHAPTER XXIV

When the first moment of ecstasy in the knowledge that they were indeed
given back to each other was over, Michael drew Sabine to the window
seat where she had been crouching only that short while before in silent
misery.

"Sweetheart," he entreated, "now you have got to tell me everything--do
you understand, Sabine--every single thing from the first moment in the
chapel when we made those vows until now when we are going to keep them.
I want to know everything, darling child--all your thoughts and what you
did with your life--and when you hated me and when you loved me----"

They sat down on the velvet cushions and Sabine nestled into his arms.

"It is so difficult, Michael," she cooed, "how can I begin? I was
sillier and more ignorant than any other girl of seventeen could
possibly be, I think--don't you? Oh! don't let us speak of that part--I
only remember that when you kissed me first in the chapel some kind of
strange emotion came to me--then I was frightened----"

"But not after a while," he interpolated, something of rapturous
triumph in his fond glance, while he caressed and smoothed her hair, as
her little head lay against his shoulder, "I thought you had forgiven me
before I went to sleep."

"Perhaps I had--I did not know myself--only that there in the gray dawn
everything seemed perfectly awful and horror and terror came upon me
again, and I had only one wild impulse to rush away--surely you can
understand--" she paused.

"Go on, sweetheart," he commanded, "I shall not let you off one detail.
I love to make you tell me every single thing"--and he took her hand and
played with her wedding ring, but not taking it off, while Sabine
thrilled with happiness.

"Well--you did not wake--and so presently I got into the sitting-room,
and at last found the certificate--and just as I was going out of the
door on to the balcony I heard you call my name sleepily--and for one
second I nearly went back--but I did not, and got safely away and to the
hotel!"

"Think of my not waking!" Michael exclaimed. "If only I had--you would
never have been allowed to go--it is maddening to remember what that
sleep cost--but how did you manage at the hotel?"

"It was after five o'clock and the side door was open into the yard. Not
a soul saw me, and I carried out my original plan. I think when I was in
the train I had alr