misery, Jane."

"I can't! I can't decide like this. It isn't fair to any of us. I don't
know what I think--I'm all a seething misery of emotions and terror.
I've got to have time. I've got to do it alone," she said breathlessly.
"Can't you understand, Jerry? Martin's love is the biggest thing that
has ever been offered to me; it is his whole being; I can't decide about
it so!"

"What about my love?"

"You never offered me your love, Jerry; I have never known it for a
moment since I married you."

"But we've lived together--we've had a child."

"I know; it never seemed sin to me, because I did not know what I was
desecrating. Now I know that my soul received nothing from my senses,
gave nothing to them, that is why I have been so unsatisfied."

"And our boy?"

Jane groaned in anguish at that thrust.

"That isn't fair, Paxton," Christiansen protested.

"It's none of it fair, if it comes to that. I'll take such advantage as
I've got, rely on that."

"You love her, too!"

Jerry made no reply to that. Jane stood, her hands over her face. Then
she spoke quickly.

"I want you to let me go away for a little, all by myself, with only
Baby. I want you not to know where I am-- I want to feel absolutely
alone to work this thing out in my mind. Will you agree, Jerry?"

"How long will you be gone?"

"Not long. I promise to come back the minute my mind is made up."

"All right, if I have your word that you'll come back," said Jerry.

"Why, Jerry!" she exclaimed.

"I'm rather fond of the Bald One," he explained, using their love word
for the baby.

She caught her breath for a second with the pain of it. Then she turned
to Christiansen.

"You agree to this, Martin?"

"Yes."

"Then I will go in the morning. When I come back I will send for you."

"Thank you," he said, his eyes shining upon her.

He held out his hand and she laid hers in it. He lifted it to his lips.
Then he turned to Jerry.

"I wish you would let me shake hands with you, Paxton."

Jerry hesitated a second, then he took Christiansen's hand and the big
man went out.

"Thank you, Jerry, that was big of you," said Jane.

He smiled faintly and she saw how the last hour had deepened the lines
in his face.

"You will want to make the preparations for your journey to-morrow. Can
I do anything?"

"I'll tell you if I think of anything. I must decide first where to go."

"If you take Baby, you will need Anna, won't you? I'll get my meals
s