tly.

'Then you mean to go on here?' he asked, with half-appealing,
half-resentful eyes.

Sibyl made a gesture of entreaty.

'What other life is there for me? What would you have me do?'

His arms fell; for a minute he sat with head hanging, his eyes fixed
and blank like those of a drunken man. Then, as if goaded suddenly----

'Who are these enemies you talk about?'

Sibyl's look wandered; her lips moved in hesitancy.

'Name one of them.'

'Isn't it better to try to forget them?'

'Women, I suppose?--You say you haven't seen Rolfe. Has _he_ heard this
talk about you, do you think?'

'No doubt,' she answered distantly. 'Isn't he coming to see you?'

'If he saw that in the papers, he won't think I am here. But I should
like to see him. I've a good mind to telegraph--but I don't know his
address. Yes--I forgot--there's a letter from him somewhere.'

'I know the address,' said Sibyl, in the same tone of reserve.

'I should like to see old Rolfe--poor old Rolfe.'

'Why do you pity him?'

'Oh--only a way of speaking. You know the address, you say? Has he
written? Has _she_ written?'

'Oh no!'

'You haven't seen her?'

Sibyl evaded the question.

'Doesn't it seem to you rather strange,' she said, 'that the Rolfes
should keep away from me--never call or write?'

Hugh's lips were set. When she repeated her inquiry more urgently, he
gave a peevish answer.

'You cared very little about her at the last. And Rolfe--when a man
marries--No, I won't see him just yet. I'll write to him when we're
away.'

'It wouldn't astonish you'--Sibyl spoke in a thin voice, not quite
under her control--'if you heard that Mrs. Rolfe had done her best and
her worst against me?'

'She? Against you?'

'I don't know that it matters. You said "poor Rolfe". I should fancy he
is poor, in every sense. As I have said so much, it's better to let you
know all; it will show you that I am not exaggerating what I have gone
through. People knew, of course, that she had called herself a friend
of mine; and just then she came into notice--just enough to give her
opportunities of being dangerous. Well, I heard before long that she
was slandering me to all her acquaintances. Oh, _she_ knew all about
me! It was lucky for me I had a credulous husband. And it still goes
on. She came here not long ago; yes, she came. She told me that she
knew I was afraid of her, and she threatened me.'

Hugh sat staring like a paralytic.

'_She_? Rolfe's