grasped the whole working of her mind, for
he understood now what manner of woman it was that he had made his
wife.

He knew that the company and employes were assembled, expecting to be
called momentarily.

"Cleo," he said, "I have had the offer of enough money to pay all that
is owing. You must decide whether I am to avail myself of it. If you
say 'yes,' it shall be here within an hour."

But she scarcely heeded, for in that moment she rose as if following
up some train of thought, and pulled out every drawer of the bureau,
looking carefully into each as though in search of something. When at
last the perception was forced on her that the miracle had still not
happened, she sat down again with a sigh.

He repeated his statement and she wanted to know from whom the offer
came.

"A friend," he answered.

"It is some woman who loves you," she flashed at him.

He could not repress a start.

"It is! It is!" she exclaimed excitedly, her eyes ablaze. "Do not
attempt to deny it; I can read it in your face. Ah, I understand now;
it is the same friend who helped you before. And you led me to believe
it was a man."

"I made no mention of the sex."

"But you knew I was deceived all the same. How dared you conceal from
me that you had had the money from a woman you had loved? Did I not
return Mr. Ingram all he had given me, because I felt it would be a
desecration to use a penny of it? And I thought you were fine, Morgan,
I thought you were fine."

Scorn rang in her tones, but he did not answer, because he wished to
avoid a scene. It were better, he thought, to let the storm exhaust
itself. The unassuming introduction of the "woman you had loved," in
place of the reverse, did not, however, escape him.

"Had I suspected the truth," she went on, admirably dramatic now that
she was not on the stage, "I should rather have taken some deadly
poison than have touched this filthy money of hers. Did you take me
for some vile creature? I shall pay back every farthing. Oh, to throw
it all in her face! No, no! this is my affair. How dare you suggest
that I, your wife, should accept more of her money! As if I could fall
so low! These debts are mine. You are not to interfere."

He could only bow to her will. In the first moment of disillusion he
had not been without a certain apprehension that she might wish to
take advantage of the fact that he belonged to a wealthy family. But
he saw now the thought had done her an injustic