he wanted to. He said he had had enough of
life; it was a rotten swindle from beginning to end.

Gladys frowned.

"If you're going to talk like an utter idiot!" she said impatiently.

He caught her hand when she would have moved away.

"I'm sorry. You might be a pal to a chap, Gladys. I--well, I'm at my
wits' end to know what to do. With Horatio coming home----"

Her eyes grew scornful.

"Oh, so _that's_ why you've come here!"

"It is and it isn't. I wanted to see Christine. You won't believe me,
I know, but I've been worried to death about her ever since she left
me. Ask Sangster, if you don't believe me. I swear to you that, if it
were possible, I'd give my right hand this minute to undo all the
rotten past and start again. I suppose it's too late. I suppose she
hates me. She said she did that last night in London. She looks as if
she does now. The way she asked me if I was going to stay to dinner--a
chap's own wife!--and in front of that brute Kettering!"

"He isn't a brute."

Gladys walked away and poured herself another cup of tea.

"Christine has been hurt--hurt much more than you have," she said at
last. She spoke slowly, as if she were carefully choosing her words.

"She was so awfully fond of you, Jimmy." Jimmy moved restlessly.
"It--it must have been a dreadful shock to her, poor child." She
looked at him impatiently. "Oh, what on earth is the use of being a
man if you can't make a woman care for you? She did once, and it ought
not to be so very difficult to make her care again. She--she's just
longing for someone to be good to her and love her. That's why she
seems to like Mr. Kettering, I know. It is only seeming, Jimmy. I
know her better than you do. It's only that he came along just when
she was so unhappy--just when she was wanting someone to be good to
her. And he _has_ been good to her--he really has," she added
earnestly.

Jimmy drew a long breath. He rose to his feet, stretching his arms
wearily.

"I don't deserve that she should forgive me," he said, with a new sort
of humility. "But--but if ever she does----" He took a quick step
forwards Gladys. "Go and ask her to come and speak to me, there's a
dear. I promise you that I won't upset her. I'll do my very best."

She went reluctantly, and as soon as the door had closed behind her,
Jimmy Challoner went over to the looking-glass and stared at his pale
reflection anxiously. He had always rather admired hi