Arthur could stand. His mind was made up to try a bold
course. He saw on the table a whisky bottle and glasses. He poured some
neat spirit into a tumbler and gave it to Margaret.

'Drink this,' he said.

'What is it?'

'Never mind! Drink it at once.'

Obediently she put it to her lips. He stood over her as she emptied the
glass. A sudden glow filled her.

'Now come with me.'

He took her arm and led her down the stairs. He passed through the hall
quickly. There was a cab just drawn up at the door, and he told her to
get in. One or two persons stared at seeing a woman come out of that
hotel in a teagown and without a hat. He directed the driver to the house
in which Susie lived and looked round at Margaret. She had fainted
immediately she got into the cab.

When they arrived, he carried Margaret upstairs and laid her on a sofa.
He told Susie what had happened and what he wanted of her. The dear woman
forgot everything except that Margaret was very ill, and promised
willingly to do all he wished.

* * * * *

For a week Margaret could not be moved. Arthur hired a little cottage in
Hampshire, opposite the Isle of Wight, hoping that amid the most
charming, restful scenery in England she would quickly regain her
strength; and as soon as it was possible Susie took her down. But she was
much altered. Her gaiety had disappeared and with it her determination.
Although her illness had been neither long nor serious, she seemed as
exhausted, physically and mentally, as if she had been for months at the
point of death. She took no interest in her surroundings, and was
indifferent to the shady lanes through which they drove and to the
gracious trees and the meadows. Her old passion for beauty was gone, and
she cared neither for the flowers which filled their little garden nor
for the birds that sang continually. But at last it seemed necessary to
discuss the future. Margaret acquiesced in all that was suggested to her,
and agreed willingly that the needful steps should be taken to procure
her release from Oliver Haddo. He made apparently no effort to trace her,
and nothing had been heard of him. He did not know where Margaret was,
but he might have guessed that Arthur was responsible for her flight, and
Arthur was easily to be found. It made Susie vaguely uneasy that there
was no sign of his existence. She wished that Arthur were not kept by his
work in London.

At last a suit for divorce wa