nsions to being lucid. But the
explanation and the justification were in the very fact, the fact that
had complete possession of him. He named it when he replied to her:
"I've simply overrated my strength."

"Oh I knew--I knew! That's why I entreated you not to come!" Miriam
groaned. She turned away lamenting, and for a moment he thought she
would retreat to her carriage. But he passed his hand into her arm, to
draw her forward, and after an instant felt her yield.

"The fact is we must have this thing out," he said. Then he added as he
made her go into the house, bending over her, "The failure of my
strength--that was just the reason of my coming."

She broke into her laugh at these words, as she entered the
drawing-room, and it made them sound pompous in their false wisdom. She
flung off, as a good-natured tribute to the image of their having the
thing out, a white shawl that had been wrapped round her. She was still
painted and bedizened, in the splendid dress of her climax, so that she
seemed protected and alienated by the character she had been acting.
"Whatever it is you want--when I understand--you'll be very brief, won't
you? Do you know I've given up a charming supper for you? Mamma has gone
there. I've promised to go back to them."

"You're an angel not to have let her come with you. I'm sure she wanted
to," Peter made reply.

"Oh she's all right, but she's nervous." Then the girl added: "Couldn't
she keep you away after all?"

"Whom are you talking about?" Biddy Dormer was as absent from his mind
as if she had never existed.

"The charming thing you were with this morning. Is she so afraid of
obliging me? Oh she'd be so good for you!"

"Don't speak of that," Peter gravely said. "I was in perfect good faith
yesterday when I took leave of you. I was--I was. But I can't--I can't:
you're too unutterably dear to me."

"Oh don't--_please_ don't!" Miriam wailed at this. She stood before the
fireless chimney-piece with one of her hands on it. "If it's only to say
that, don't you know, what's the use?"

"It isn't only to say that. I've a plan, a perfect plan: the whole thing
lies clear before me."

"And what's the whole thing?"

He had to make an effort. "You say your mother's nervous. Ah if you knew
how nervous I am!"

"Well, I'm not. Go on."

"Give it up--give it up!" Peter stammered.

"Give it up?" She fixed him like a mild Medusa.

"I'll marry you to-morrow if you'll renounce; and in return fo