ffense?"
--Pope.

After wandering aimlessly about the city for awhile the half-crazed
gambler turned his footsteps toward home. He longed for and yet dreaded
its quiet and repose. The forces of attraction and repulsion were so
nearly balanced that for a long time he oscillated before his own door
like a piece of iron hung between the opposite poles of a battery.

At last he entered, both hoping and fearing that Pepeeta would be
asleep. He had a vague presentiment that he was on the verge of some
great event. The guilty secret so long hidden in the depths of his soul
seemed to have festered its way dangerously near to the surface, and he
felt that if anything more should happen to irritate him he might do
something desperate.

So quiet had been his movements that he stood at Pepeeta's door before
she knew that he had entered the house, and when he saw her kneeling by
her bedside he stamped his foot in rage. The worshiper, startled by the
interruption, although she was momentarily expecting it, hastily arose.

As she turned toward him, he saw that there was a light on her pale
countenance which reflected the peace of God to whom she had been
praying, as worshipers always and inevitably reflect, however feebly,
the character of what they worship. Her beauty, her humility, her
holiness goaded him to madness. He hated her, and yet he loved her. He
could either have killed her or died for her.

She smiled him a welcome which revealed her love, but did not conceal
her sadness nor her suffering, and, approaching him, extended her hands
for an embrace. He pushed her aside and flung himself heavily into a
chair.

"You are tired," she said soothingly, and stroked his hair.

He did not answer, and her caress both tranquilized and frenzied him.

She placed before him the little lunch which she always prepared with
her own hands and kept in readiness for his return.

"Take it away," he said.

She obeyed, and returning seated herself upon an ottoman at his feet.

The silence was one which it seemed impossible to break, but which at
last became unendurable.

"How often have I told you never to let me find you on your knees when I
come home?" he at last asked, brutally.

"Oh! my beloved," she exclaimed, "you will at least permit me to kneel
to you! See! I am here in an attitude of supplication! Listen to me!
Answer me! What is the matter? Do you not love me any more? Tell me!"

He drew away his hands which she ha