ed loud in the stillness; and
she went reluctantly into her own room.

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE UTTERMOST FARTHING.

"We then that are strong ..."
--ST PAUL.

To say that Owen Kresney was annoyed would be to do him an injustice.
He was furious at the unlooked-for interruption, which bade fair to
cancel all that he had been at such pains to achieve. Pure spite so
mastered him, that even the news of Desmond's critical condition--which
stirred the whole station the morning after the funeral--awakened no
spark of pity in that region of concentrated egotism which must needs
be called his heart.

The "counter-check quarrelsome" would have been welcome enough. But
this impersonal method of knocking the ground from under his feet
goaded him to exasperation. He had not even the satisfaction of
knowing that he had wrought jealousy or friction between husband and
wife. Desmond had practically ignored his existence. There lay the
sting that roused all the devil in Kresney; and the devil is a light
sleeper in some men's souls. But the Oriental strain in the man made
him an adept at a waiting game; and finding himself cavalierly thrust
aside, he could do no otherwise than remain in the background for the
present, alert, vigilant, cursing his luck.

* * * * *

In the blue bungalow a strained calmness prevailed. The work that must
be done could only be carried through by living from hour to hour, as
Paul had said; and Evelyn could now no longer be shielded from the
pain of knowledge.

On the morning after her first night of vigil, Honor came to her; and,
keeping firm hold of both her hands, told her, simply and straightly,
that the coming week would make the utmost demands upon her strength
and courage.

Evelyn listened with wide eyes and blanching cheeks.

"Did--did _I_ make him bad?" she asked in an awe-struck whisper, for
she had not been able to keep her own counsel in regard to her fatal
interview with Theo.

"I think not--I hope not," Honor answered gravely. "But you did wound
him cruelly; and whatever happens, you _must_ not fail him now."

Evelyn looked up with a distressed puckering of her forehead.

"I don't want to--fail him, Honor. But you know I'm not a bit of use
with sick people; and I can't all of a sudden turn brave and strong,
like you."

Honor's smile expressed an infinite deal, but she did not answer at
once. She wanted to be ve