ecame quiet when their emotions had exhausted them. Yet no
ill-feeling resulted from these disputes. Virginia had a rooted faith
in her sister's innocence; when angry, she only tried to provoke Monica
into a full explanation of the mystery, so insoluble by unaided
conjecture. And Monica, say what she might, repaid this confidence with
profound gratitude. Strangely, she had come to view herself as not only
innocent of the specific charge brought against her, but as a woman in
every sense maligned. So utterly void of significance, from her present
point of view, was all that had passed between her and Bevis. One
reason for this lay in the circumstance that, when exchanging
declarations with her lover, she was ignorant of a fact which, had she
known it, would have made their meetings impossible. Her husband she
could never regard but as a cruel enemy; none the less, nature had set
a seal upon their marriage against which the revolt of her heart was
powerless. If she lived to bear a child, that child would be his.
Widdowson, when he heard of her condition, would declare it the final
proof of infidelity; and this injustice it was that exclusively
occupied her mind. On this account she could think only of the
accusation which connected her name with Barfoot's--all else was
triviality. Had there been no slightest ground for imputation upon her
conduct, she could not have resented more vigorously her husband's
refusal to acquit her of dishonour.

On the following day, after their early dinner, Monica unexpectedly
declared that she must go out.

'Come with me. We'll go into the town.'

'But you refused to go out this morning when it was fine,' complained
Virginia. 'And now you can see it will rain.'

'Then I shall go alone.'

The sister at once started up.

'No, no; I'm quite ready. Where do you wish--'

'Anywhere out of this dead place. We'll go by train, and walk from
Victoria--anywhere. To the Abbey, if you like.'

'You must be very careful not to catch cold. After all this time that
you haven't left the house--'

Monica cut short the admonition and dressed herself with feverish
impatience. As they set forth, drops of rain had begun to fall, but
Monica would not hear of waiting. The journey by train made her
nervous, but affected her spirits favourably. At Victoria it rained so
heavily that they could not go out into the street.

'It doesn't matter. There's plenty to see here. Let us walk about and
look at things