away from her. It fell soundlessly on the soft carpet, and rolled under a
chair.

"Owen! You would have ... done that!..."

Divine reproach was to her face. He snarled:

"It would have been done by now if you had not come back!"

"I thank our Lord I came!... It is His doing! Once He had sent me
knowledge, I could not stay away. For, Owen ... I have made a
discovery...."

"Yes." He laughed harshly. "As I knew you would one day! Never was I fool
enough to doubt what would come!"

She put both her hands to her lips and kissed them, and held them out to
him. He cried:

"What is this? What interlude of folly are you playing? It was your
freedom you came to demand. You have not told me who the man you love is.
I do not ask--I will not even know! He is your choice; that is enough!"

"He is my choice!" Her bosom heaved to the measure of her quickened
breathing. The splendid colour rose over the edge of the lace scarf that
was loosely knotted about her sweet throat, and surged to the pure
temples, and climbed to the line of the rich red-brown hair.

"You will soon be free to tell the world so. Marry him," said Saxham, "and
forget the dreary months dragged out beside the sot! For I who promised
you I would never fail you; I who told you so confidently that I was
cured of the accursed liquor-crave; I--well, I reckoned without my
host----"

His laugh jarred her heartstrings. She cried out hotly:

"You did not deceive me wilfully! You believed what you said!"

"I believed ... and the first snare set for me tripped up my heels," said
Saxham. "I paid the penalty of being cocksure. And I had not the common
decency to die then and release you. True, there were reasons--they are
swept away now!... I sent you to Wales that I might be free of the sight
of you, that I might end the sordid comedy and have done. You have come
too soon! There's no more to be said than that!"

"There is this to be said."

She came towards him, her tender eyes wooing his. Her lips were parted,
her breath came in sighs.

"What you have told me is sorrowful, but not hopeless. You were cured
once--you will be cured again! And I will help you--comfort you--suffer
with you and pray for you. You shall never be alone, my husband, any
more!"

He was melting. His hard blue eyes had the softening gleam of tears. He
stretched out his hands and took hers, holding them close. He stooped, and
let his burning lips rest on the cool, fragrant flesh, and said