he might some day take an abiding interest in the housemaid. Worst of
all, he had been made to appear ridiculous in Maisie's eyes. A woman
will forgive the man who has ruined her life's work so long as he gives
her love; a man may forgive those who ruin the love of his life, but he
will never forgive the destruction of his work.

'Tck--tck--tck,' said Dick between his teeth, and then laughed softly.
'It's an omen, Bessie, and--a good many things considered, it serves me
right for doing what I have done. By Jove! that accounts for Maisie's
running away. She must have thought me perfectly mad--small blame to
her! The whole picture ruined, isn't it so? What made you do it?'

'Because I was that angry. I'm not angry now--I'm awful sorry.'

'I wonder.--It doesn't matter, anyhow. I'm to blame for making the
mistake.'

'What mistake?'

'Something you wouldn't understand, dear. Great heavens! to think that
a little piece of dirt like you could throw me out of stride!' Dick was
talking to himself as Bessie tried to shake off his grip on her wrist.

'I ain't a piece of dirt, and you shouldn't call me so! I did it 'cause
I hated you, and I'm only sorry now 'cause you're--'cause you're----'

'Exactly--because I'm blind. There's noting like tact in little things.'

Bessie began to sob. She did not like being shackled against her will;
she was afraid of the blind face and the look upon it, and was sorry too
that her great revenge had only made Dick laugh.

'Don't cry,' he said, and took her into his arms. 'You only did what you
thought right.'

'I--I ain't a little piece of dirt, and if you say that I'll never come
to you again.'

'You don't know what you've done to me. I'm not angry--indeed, I'm not.

Be quiet for a minute.'

Bessie remained in his arms shrinking. Dick's first thought was
connected with Maisie, and it hurt him as white-hot iron hurts an open
sore.

Not for nothing is a man permitted to ally himself to the wrong woman.

The first pang--the first sense of things lost is but the prelude to
the play, for the very just Providence who delights in causing pain has
decreed that the agony shall return, and that in the midst of keenest
pleasure.

They know this pain equally who have forsaken or been forsaken by
the love of their life, and in their new wives' arms are compelled to
realise it.

It is better to remain alone and suffer only the misery of being alone,
so long as it is possible to find distra