rooms knowing he
was there? It was preposterous. Still the small voice rang in his
ears--perhaps she's untrue! It haunted him till one day he asked
point-blank for an explanation. Then she told that she had perjured
herself. She was not the woman. Who she really was she could not say. He
must be satisfied for the present with the assurance that it was not his
wife. With that he was content. What did he care for the opinion of
others? He knew--that was enough! In their conversation on the subject
Annie did not even mention Alicia's name. Why should she?

Weeks passed, and Howard's health did not improve. He had tried to find
a position, but without success, yet every day brought its obligations
which had to be met. One morning Annie was bustling about their tiny
dining room preparing the table for their frugal luncheon. She had just
placed the rolls and butter on the table, and arranged the chairs, when
there came a ring at the front doorbell. Early visitors were not so
unfrequent as to cause surprise, so, without waiting to remove her
apron, she went to the door and opened it. Dr. Bernstein entered.

"Good morning, Mrs. Jeffries," he said cheerily. Putting down his
medical bag, he asked: "How is our patient this morning?"

"All right, doctor. He had a splendid night's rest. I'll call him."

"Never mind, I want to talk to you." Seriously, he went on: "Mrs.
Jeffries, your husband needs a change of scene. He's worrying. That
fainting spell the other day was only a symptom. I'm afraid he'll break
down unless----"

"Unless what?" she demanded anxiously.

He hesitated for a moment, as if unwilling to give utterance to words he
knew must inflict pain. Then quickly he continued:

"Your husband is under a great mental strain. His inability to support
you, his banishment from his proper sphere in the social world is mental
torture to him. He feels his position keenly. There is nothing else to
occupy his mind but thoughts of his utter and complete failure in life.
I was talking to his father last night, and----"

"And what?" she demanded, drawing herself up. She suspected what was
coming, and nerved herself to meet it.

"Now, don't regard me as an enemy," said the doctor in a conciliatory
tone. "Mr. Jeffries inquired after his son. Believe me, he's very
anxious. He knows he did the boy a great injustice, and he wants to make
up for it."

"Oh, he does?" she exclaimed sarcastically.

Dr. Bernstein hesitated for a moment