ut
powerless over the trouble of another's. Among the few people she had
called her friends there was one strong woman--strong of brain, and
capable, it might be, of speaking the words that go from soul to soul;
this woman she had deeply offended, yet owing to mere mischance.
Whether or no Rhoda Nunn had lent ear to Barfoot's wooing she must be
gravely offended; she had given proof of it in the interview reported
by Virginia. The scandal spread abroad by Widdowson might even have
been fatal to a happiness of which she had dreamt. To Rhoda Nunn some
form of reparation was owing. And might not an avowal of the whole
truth elicit from her counsel of gratitude--some solace, some guidance?

Amid the tremors of night Monica felt able to take this step, for the
mere chance of comfort that it offered. But when day came the
resolution had vanished; shame and pride again compelled her to silence.

And this morning she had new troubles to think about. Virginia was
keeping her room; would admit no one; answered every whisper of appeal
with brief, vague words that signified anything or nothing. The others
breakfasted in gloom that harmonized only too well with the heavy,
dripping sky visible from their windows. Only at midday did Alice
succeed in obtaining speech with her remorseful sister. They were
closeted together for more than an hour, and the elder woman came forth
at last with red, tear-swollen eyes.

'We must leave her alone today,' she said to Monica. 'She won't take
any meal. Oh, the wretched state she is in! If only I could have known
of this before!'

'Has it been going on for very long?'

'It began soon after she went to live at Mrs. Conisbee's. She has told
me all about it--poor girl, poor thing! Whether she can ever break
herself of it, who knows? She says that she will take the pledge of
total abstinence, and I encouraged her to do so; it may be some use,
don't you think?'

'Perhaps--I don't know--'

'But I have no faith in her reforming unless she goes away from London.
She thinks herself that only a new life in a new place will give her
the strength. My dear, at Mrs. Conisbee's she starved herself to have
money to buy spirits; she went without any food but dry bread day after
day.'

'Of course that made it worse. She must have craved for support.'

'Of course. And your husband knows about it. He came once when she was
in that state--when you were away--'

Monica nodded sullenly, her eyes averted.

'H