uld say was that everything was a fraud and a cheat,
that his faith had been taken away, there was nothin' left--nothin'. But
Lulie, bless her heart, was a brave girl and a dear one. She said, 'I am
left, father. You've got me, you know.' And he turned to her and clung
to her as if she was his only real sheet anchor. As, of course, she is,
and would have been always if he hadn't gone adrift after Little Cherry
Blossom and such rubbish. Mr. Bangs, I--"

She paused. She looked first at Galusha and then at the Boston banker.
Her tone changed.

"Why, what is it?" she asked, quickly. "What is the matter?... Mr.
Bangs--"

Galusha had risen when she entered. He was pale, but resolute.

"Miss Phipps," he began, "I--I have been waiting to--to say something to
you. I--ah--yes, to say something. Yes, Miss Phipps."

It was the first time he had addressed her as "Miss Phipps" for many
months. He had, ever since she granted him permission and urged him to
drop formality, addressed her as Miss Martha and seemed to take pride
in that permission and to consider it an honor. Now the very fact of his
returning to the old manner was, although she did not yet realize it, an
indication that he considered his right to her friendship forfeited.

"Miss Phipps," he began once more, "I--I wish to make a confession, a
humiliating confession. I shall not ask you to forgive me. I realize
that what I have done is quite beyond pardon."

He stopped again; the road was a hard one to travel. Martha gazed at
him, aghast and uncomprehending. Cabot, understanding but little more,
shrugged his shoulders.

"For heaven's sake, old man," he exclaimed, "don't speak like that! You
haven't committed murder, have you?"

Galusha did not answer nor heed him. It was to Martha Phipps he spoke
and at her that he looked, as a guilty man in the prisoners' dock might
regard the judge about to pronounce his death sentence.

"Miss Phipps," he began, for the third time, "I have deceived you. I--I
have lied to you, not only once but--ah--ah--a great many times. I am
quite unworthy of your respect--ah, quite."

Martha's face expressed many things, absolute amazement predominant.

"Why--why, Mr. Bangs!" she gasped. "What--"

"Pardon me," went on Galusha. "I was about to explain. I--I will try to
make the explanation brief. It is--ah--very painful to me to make and
will be, I fear, as painful for you to hear. Miss Phipps, when I told
you--or gave you to understand-