I fear critical people would say that
you meddled. I shall only say that you are inquiring--scientific,
or feminine--what you please!... You can now yield up your portfolio
of--foreign affairs--of war--shall I say? and retire into sedative
habitations, which, believe me, you become best.... What concerns
me need concern you no longer. The enemy retreats. She offers
truce--without conditions. She retires.... Is that enough for even you,
Professor Marmion?"

"Mrs. Falchion," I said, finding it impossible to understand why she
had so suddenly determined to go away (for I did not know all the truth
until afterwards--some of it long afterwards), "it is more than I dared
to hope for, though less, I know, than you have heart to do if you
willed so. I know that you hold some power over my friend."

"Do not think," she said, "that you have had the least influence. What
you might think, or may have intended to do, has not moved me in the
least. I have had wrongs that you do not know. I have changed--that is
all. I admit I intended to do Galt Roscoe harm.

"I thought he deserved it. That is over. After to-night, it is not
probable that we shall meet again. I hope that we shall not; as,
doubtless, is your own mind."

She kept looking at me with that new deep look which I had seen when she
first entered the room.

I was moved, and I saw that just at the last she had spoken under
considerable strain. "Mrs. Falchion," said I, "I have THOUGHT harder
things of you than I ever SAID to any one. Pray believe that, and
believe, also, that I never tried to injure you. For the rest, I can
make no complaint. You do not like me. I liked you once, and do now,
when you do not depreciate yourself of purpose.... Pardon me, but I say
this very humbly too.... I suppose I always shall like you, in spite of
myself. You are one of the most gifted and fascinating women that I ever
met. I have been anxious for my friend. I was concerned to make peace
between you and your husband--"

"The man who WAS my husband," she interrupted musingly.

"Your husband--whom you so cruelly treated. But I confess I have found
it impossible to withhold admiration of you."

For a long time she did not reply, but she never took her eyes off my
face, as she leaned slightly forward. Then at last she spoke more gently
than I had ever heard her, and a glow came upon her face.

"I am only human. You have me at advantage. What woman could reply
unkindly to a speech like