ht I honor."

"Yet you were willing to sacrifice him!"

"I needed him."

Von Sternburg looked at her in abhorrence.

"I suppose you don't know what an abomination of selfishness you are."

She did not seem to hear him, but added, bitterly,--

"Now you have come, my hope is gone."

Von Sternburg looked across the room. Friedrich was leaning over
Sydney's chair.

"It is still in the family, I should say. It merely has changed its
abiding-place."

A spasm which was the recognition of defeat, not the anguish of loss,
went over Hilda's face. She crossed the room to Mrs. Carroll, von
Sternburg following slowly after.

"Dear Mrs. Car-roll," she said, in English, "Baron von Sternburg has
brought news that compels me to leave Oakwood soon--yes, to-morrow. I
hope you know how gr-rateful I am to you for your hospitality. Your
kindness alvays vill be a br-right spot in my life!"

She looked charmingly young and very lovely as she stooped and kissed
the old lady's cheek.

"To-morrow? Oh, surely not to-morrow!" cried Sydney, in hospitable
reproach.

"Sydney dear, you are vonderful! I r-really believe you mean it after
everything." And she tapped the taller girl's cheek with her tiny hand.

She was entirely self-possessed now, much less agitated than the two
men who knew her secret, or than Wendell, who had been stricken at the
news of her departure; or than Sydney, who was overcome by
embarrassment as she came to appreciate the meaning of her guest's
speech.

"I expect never to see you again, Friedrich; I should pr-refer not; so
I vant to make my confession to you now. Oh, any one may hear," she
said, in answer to a gesture of Friedrich's. "I am quite
indifferent--now. Did the Baron tell you that Max shot himself because
I r-refused to give up a flirtation? It is quite tr-rue. I lied to you,
Friedrich, and I did an injustice to a man who had conquered the
follies of his life. Ah, Mrs. Car-roll, I did not love my husband or
vear his name vorthily. I am one of the lost illusions."

She looked from one to another in quick observance of their emotion.

"Then, my scar," she went on, lightly, "that vas another lie. I've had
it ever since I vas a child. And here is something that Baron von
Sternburg could not have disclosed. You see I am r-revealing
everything. I am sure he told you that I am rich? Yes? But he vas not
avare that _I knew_ from Herr Stapfer that you vere depr-riving
yourself for me."

"Oh, Hilda," cri