was thankful to find someone who needed her. But she had a
hard time. All the trouble, and isolation, and patience,
and--_Hastiness_, for nothing! It was a hopeless case, and grew
steadily worse and worse. Meriel left off writing during that time, but
my sister said that even before that her letters had grown awfully
sad... Then they sailed for India, I suppose to try what the change
would do, and there was a collision. Some of the passengers got away in
boats and were saved--Meriel refused to leave. Some of the passengers
told how they had seen Sterne trying to persuade her; but she would not
leave."

There was another silence. With one accord the guests looked at Mrs
Ingram, and she recognised the meaning of that look, shook her head, and
held out her hands with a gesture of helplessness.

"You are thinking that my theory has failed, and that Meriel found none
of the happiness for which she longed. Yes! it sounds like it. Her
youth spent in isolation, with a drunken woman as companion, and the
result of it all--failure! I don't deny it, dear people. I don't
argue. On the surface it's a pitiful tale, but we know only the
surface. No one can read the secrets of Meriel's heart. She was happy
in one thing, at least--that the time of her loneliness was short, and I
think there are none among you who will deny that Meriel is happy _now_.
Whatever may be your creeds, you will agree that such brave, unselfish
giving is a garnering of wealth for the life that is to come. We may be
satisfied that Meriel has come into her kingdom!" She paused just for a
moment, then with a challenging smile turned towards Val Lessing, who
sat on her right. The conversation had taken a pensive turn, and with
the generalship of a born hostess she was ready to switch it back into a
livelier channel. Among all the couples who were present none looked
more absolutely sane and satisfied than Val and his wife. Val could
obviously be trusted to give a cheerful report.

"Well, Val, what have you to tell us? Was fate kind or unkind enough to
lead you through any perilous seas before you reached your present very
sunshiny haven?"

Val bent his head in acknowledgment of the compliment. There was a
tinge of embarrassment on his face; he glanced across the hearth at his
wife, and as quickly averted his eyes.

"W-e-ll," he said slowly, "I think I may say that it _was_! I had an
experience of er--what appeared at the time to be a ve