den change of fortune, had been revealed
by power. Her first fears for the future of the business abated; but
with increasing respect for Raymond, the former affection perished. She
was firm in her moral standards, and to find his first use of power an
evasion of solemn and sacred promises, made Miss Ironsyde Raymond's
enemy. That he ignored her appeals to his manhood and honesty did not
modify her changed attitude. She found herself much wounded by his
callous conduct, and while his past weakness had been forgiven, his new
strength proved unforgivable.

Her appeal was, however, indirectly acknowledged, for Sabina received
another letter from Raymond in which he mentioned Miss Ironsyde's
communication.

"My aunt," he wrote, "does not realise the situation, or appreciate the
fact that love may remain a much more enduring and lively emotion
outside marriage than inside it. There are, of course, people who find
chains bearable enough, and even grow to like them, as convicts were
said to do; but you are not such a craven, no more am I. We must think
of the future, not the past, and I feel very sure that if we married,
the result would be death to our friendship. We had a splendid time, and
we might still have a splendid time, if you could be unconventional and
realise how many other women are also. But probably you have decided
against my suggestions, or I should have heard from you. So I suppose
you hate me, and I'm awfully sorry to think it. You won't come to me,
then. But that doesn't lessen my obligations, and I'm going to take
every possible care of you and your child, Sabina, whether you come or
not. He is my child, too, and I shan't forget it. If you would like to
see me you shall when I return to Bridport, pretty soon now; but if you
would rather not do so, then let me know who represents you, and I will
hear what you and your mother would wish."

She wrote several answers to this and destroyed them. They were bitter
and contemptuous, and as each was finished she realised its futility.
She could but sting; she could not seriously hurt. Even her sting would
not trouble him much, for a man who had done what he had done, was proof
against the scorn and hate of a woman. Only greater power than his own
could make him feel. Her powerlessness maddened her--her powerlessness
contrasted with his remorseless strength. But he used his strength like
a coward.

Some of her friends urged her to take legal action against Raymo