but just the same she had been badly
beaten, her beauty turned into a ragamuffin show, and that was enough.
This evening, in the Lake Shore Sanitarium, where she had been taken,
she had but one thought--to get away when it should all be over and
rest her wearied brain. She did not want to see Sohlberg any more; she
did not want to see Cowperwood any more. Already Harold, suspicious
and determined to get at the truth, was beginning to question her as to
the strangeness of Aileen's attack--her probable reason. When
Cowperwood was announced, Sohlberg's manner modified somewhat, for
whatever his suspicions were, he was not prepared to quarrel with this
singular man as yet.

"I am so sorry about this unfortunate business," said Cowperwood,
coming in with brisk assurance. "I never knew my wife to become so
strangely unbalanced before. It was most fortunate that I arrived when
I did. I certainly owe you both every amend that can be made. I
sincerely hope, Mrs. Sohlberg, that you are not seriously injured. If
there is anything I can possibly do--anything either of you can
suggest"--he looked around solicitously at Sohlberg--"I shall only be
too glad to do it. How would it do for you to take Mrs. Sohlberg away
for a little while for a rest? I shall so gladly pay all expenses in
connection with her recovery."

Sohlberg, brooding and heavy, remained unresponsive, smoldering; Rita,
cheered by Cowperwood's presence, but not wholly relieved by any means,
was questioning and disturbed. She was afraid there was to be a
terrific scene between them. She declared she was better and would be
all right--that she did not need to go away, but that she preferred to
be alone.

"It's very strange," said Sohlberg, sullenly, after a little while. "I
daunt onderstand it! I daunt onderstand it at all. Why should she do
soach a thing? Why should she say soach things? Here we have been the
best of friends opp to now. Then suddenly she attacks my wife and sais
all these strange things."

"But I have assured you, my dear Mr. Sohlberg, that my wife was not in
her right mind. She has been subject to spells of this kind in the
past, though never to anything so violent as this to-night. Already
she has recovered her normal state, and she does not remember. But,
perhaps, if we are going to discuss things now we had better go out in
the hall. Your wife will need all the rest she can get."

Once outside, Cowperwood continued with brillia