, all that mischief is done and can't be undone. I
mean the humiliation and the idea that she was in Florence all the time
during our married life, and all the talk, and my having to meet this
unfortunate girl who has his money. All of them think he was unfaithful
to me, and nothing can put that right. Nothing--I mean nothing of this
world--can put any of that right. And I can't bear the idea of a quarrel
and going to law with these people for money; it may be pride, but I
simply can't bear it."

"But, don't you see," said Edmund, "that if we could prove there was
another will, that would clear David's reputation."

"It won't prevent people knowing that there was the first will and all
about the poor woman in Florence."

"No; but it will make people feel that he behaved properly in the end.
It will alter their bad opinion of him."

"But it will also make them go on thinking and talking of the scandal,
and if it is left alone they will forget. People forget so soon, because
there is always something new to talk about. He will just take his place
among the heroes who died for their country, and the rest will be
forgotten."

Edmund looked at her quickly, as if taking stock of the delicate nature
of the complex womanly materials he had to deal with, but her face was
still averted.

"I think it's hard on David." He spoke as if yielding to her wish. "I do
think it is hard. If he did make this will, and it is lost through
chance or fraud, I think it is very hard that his last wishes should be
disregarded, and his memory should suffer in all right-minded people's
opinions. Of course, it is for you to decide, but I own I should
otherwise feel it wrong to leave a stone unturned if anything could be
done to restore his good name."

He felt that Rose was terribly troubled, but he could not quite realise
what it was to her to disturb her hardly-won peace of mind and calm of
conscience.

"If it were not for the money!" she faltered. "I shall get to long for
that money; so many people become horrid when they have a lawsuit about
a fortune. It has always seemed to me that if the money is only for
one's self one might leave it alone, and then, after all, if we went to
law and failed, things would be much worse than they were before."

"Well," said Edmund, slightly exasperated but controlling himself. "I
don't mean to do anything definite yet, but we ought to find out if we
can make a case of it. We can always stop in time if