That is the road to ruin thousands of women tread," she went on. "It
would have been the road I should have gone but for you. The knowledge
that despite all I have done to merit your scorn, you still hold to the
love you gave me in the happier days, is the rock to which I have clung.
Had you acted differently, I should have gone--gone from here, gone from
everything, gone out into the world and lost myself under the weight of
the disgrace which had come upon me. People would say I have no right to
tell you this, that I am false to my sex in doing so. They don't know.
It is easy to theorise when one is not in danger. I tell you because I
trust you and know I can trust you. It is such men as you who save
women, save them from themselves, as it is such men as Charlie who ruin
them--as he ruined me."

With her face still averted from him she ceased, and he also was silent,
not trusting himself to speak.

"That is why I must stay here. The mere fact of being near you gives me
strength. If you are going away, then I will go also, for Waroona would
then be impossible for me. But not till then, Fred, not till then. I
only want to know you are here, only to see you sometimes. Do not deny
me that."

"You know I will not deny you anything that will help you in facing your
difficulties, Jess," he answered.

"Yes, I know," she said. "I could never have come through what I have if
I had not always known it.

"Will you have to go when the new manager comes?" she asked presently.

"The new manager is here," he answered.

"Here? Why, when did he arrive? I did not hear of it. Did they keep it
from me on purpose? Mr. Gale was in this morning, but he said nothing
about it."

"He probably did not know at the time. I told him this afternoon."

"What is his name? Is it anyone I know, or who knew Charlie?"

"Yes."

She faced round quickly.

"Fred--you?"

"Yes," he answered.

"Oh, I am pleased," she began impulsively. Then she stopped. "That was
why you did not come sooner," she added.

"Yes," he replied. "Mr. Wallace told me three days ago it was to be, and
I thought it better not to call immediately you returned."

She had risen with her hand outstretched to him, but, before she could
speak, a knock at the front door interrupted her.

"Is Mr. Harding here?" they heard Durham's voice ask when Bessie went to
the door.

"Tell him I wish to see him at once," he added.

She went to the door of the room.

"Ask Mr. Durham