re
they went back to Gleneesh. You remember? They were in town for the
production of his symphony. I saw that ideal wedded life, and I realised
something of what a perfect mating of souls could mean. And then--well,
there were others; people who did not understand how wholly I am
Michael's; nothing actually wrong; but not so fresh and youthful as
Billy's innocent adoration; and I feared I should accidentally learn what
only Michael must teach. Therefore I fled away! Oh, doctor; if I ever
learned from another man, that which I have failed to learn from my own
husband, I should lie at Michael's feet and implore him to kill me!"

The doctor looked up at the portrait over the mantelpiece. The calm
passionless face smiled blandly at the tiny dog. One sensitive hand,
white and delicate as a woman's, was raised, forefinger uplifted, gently
holding the attention of the little animal's eager eyes. The magic skill
of the artist supplied the doctor with the key to the problem. A
_woman_--as mate, as wife, as part of himself, was not a necessity in the
life of this thinker, inventor, scholar, saint. He could appreciate dumb
devotion; he was capable of unlimited kindness, leniency, patience,
toleration. But woman and dog alike, remained outside the citadel of his
inner self. Had not her eyes resembled those of a favourite spaniel, he
would very probably not have wedded the lovely woman who, now, during ten
years had borne his name; and even then he might not have done so, had
not the tyranny of her mother, awakening his instinct of protection
towards the weak and oppressed, aroused in him a determination to
withstand that tyranny, and to carry her off triumphantly to freedom.

The longer the doctor looked, the more persistently the picture said; "We
two; and where does _she_ come in?"--Righteous wrath arose in the heart
of Deryck Brand; for his ideal as to man's worship of woman was a high
one. As he thought of the closed door; of the lonely wife, humbly jealous
of a toy-poodle, yet blaming herself only, for her loneliness, his jaw
set, and his brow darkened. And all the while he listened for a sound
from the outer world which must soon come.

Lady Ingleby noticed his intent gaze, and, leaning forward, also looked
up at the picture. The firelight shone on her lovely face, and on the
gleaming softness of her hair. Her lips parted in a tender smile; a pure
radiance shone from her eyes.

"Ah, he _is_ so good!" she said. "In all the