ck from the surface
conventions into a brute impulse of rage.

"I told you I didn't know," she answered irritably, "I told you that--"

"Of course, I'm willing to let it go this time," he went on, with what
she felt to be a complacent return to his lordly attitude, "there's no
use making a fuss, so we may as well forget it--but, for heaven's sake,
don't give me a jealous wife. There's nothing under heaven more likely
to drive a man insane."

Some elusive grace in her attitude--a suggestion of a wild thing poised
for flight--arrested him suddenly as he looked at her; and she saw his
face change instantly while the fire of passion leaped to his eyes.

"Be a darling and we'll forget it all!" he exclaimed.

He made a step forward, but shrinking back until she appeared almost to
crouch against the wall, she put out her hands as if warding off his
approach.

"Don't touch me!" she said; and though she spoke in a whisper, her words
seemed to shriek back at her from the air. The thought that she was
fighting for the freedom of her soul rushed through her brain, and at
the instant, had he laid his hand upon her, she knew that she would have
thrown herself from the window.

"I don't want to touch you," he returned, cooling immediately, "but
can't you come to your senses and be reasonable?"

"If you don't mind I wish you'd go," she said, looking at him with a
smile which was like the smile of a statue.

"If I go now will you promise to get sensible again?" he asked, with
annoyance, for it occurred to him that since he had made up his mind to
be magnanimous, she had repulsed his generosity in a most ungrateful
fashion.

"I am sensible," she responded, "I am sensible for the first time for
months."

"Well, you've a pretty way of showing it," he retorted. His irritation
got suddenly the better of him, and fearing that it might break out in
spite of his control, he turned toward the door. "For God's sake, let's
make the best of it now," he added desperately.

In his nervousness he stumbled against the table and upset the red
leather box which contained the coffee service.

"I beg your pardon," he said, and stooping to pick it up, he replaced
the silver in the case before he went into the hall and closed the door
behind him.

CHAPTER III

PROVES A GREAT CITY TO BE A GREAT SOLITUDE

After he had gone Laura remained standing where he had left her, until
the sound of the hall door closing sharply caused her to