t I had won."

"Ah. Others have thought that," Drexley scoffed.

"She answered me," Douglas continued, in a tone momentarily softened,
"as I would have had her answer me, and for a time I thought that I was
going to be the happiest man in the world. But--afterwards--Drexley,
even at this moment I do not know whether I have not been the most
consummate fool on God's earth."

"Go on. Speak plainly."

"I spoke of marriage--she evaded it. There was an obstacle. I begged
for her whole confidence. She withheld it. Then, Drexley, all your
damnable warnings, all that I had ever heard of--her vanity, her
heartlessness, her self-worship, came like madness into my brain. I
refused to trust to my own instincts, I refused to trust her, so she
sent me away. And, Drexley, if she be a true woman then may God help
me, for I need it."

"She sent you away?"

"Ay. I spent some miserable days. No word came from her. It was over.
Then it chanced that Cicely came to me. She was sympathetic, bright,
and cheerful. She made me forget for a little while my despair. I have
always been fond of her, I think that she has always been fond of me.
You know the rest."

"You are going to marry Cicely Strong," Drexley said, slowly. "But you
love Emily de Reuss?"

Douglas winced.

"I am afraid--that you are right," he said.

"And have you told Miss Strong," Drexley continued, "that you are
proposing to marry her, but that you love another woman?" ''

Douglas looked up frowning. Drexley's tone had become almost
contemptuous.

"Do you think that you are behaving fairly to her?" he asked. "Remember
that she is not the child with whom you used to talk sentiment in your
little Cumberland village. She is a woman now, with keen
susceptibilities--as little a woman to be trifled with in her way as
Emily de Reuss herself."

The two men faced one another. Douglas was angry with Drexley, angry
too with himself.

"I believe you're right, Drexley," he said, with an effort, "but I'm
hanged if I see what business it is of yours."

"It is the business of any man at any time," Drexley answered softly,
"to speak for the woman whom he loves."

CHAPTER XXXVII

CICELY MAKES HER CHOICE

Society, over whose borders Douglas had once before passed under the
tutelage of Emily de Reuss, opened her doors to him now freely, and
Douglas, convinced that here was a solitude which the four walls of his
chambers in Adam Street, peopled as they were with memories