gently. "Run out and play, dear," she said, and until the door
had shut on the child she did not stir. Her hand at her throat, "Well?"
she asked.

Miss Burgess began to cry into her handkerchief.

"It's Paul!" said Lydia with certainty. She sat down.

The weeping woman nodded.

"He has left me," Lydia continued in the same dry tone of affirmation.
"I know. We had a quarrel, and he has left me."

Miss Burgess looked up, quite wild with surprise, her sobs cut short,
her face twisted. "Oh, no--no--no!" she cried, running across the room
and putting her arms about the other. "No; it's not that! He--he--the
man who telephoned said they were testing the dynamo, and your husband
insisted on--"

Lydia came to life like a swimmer emerging into the air after a long
dive. "Oh, he's hurt! He's hurt!" she cried, bounding to her feet. "I
must go to him. I must go to him!"

She tore herself away from the reporter and darted toward the door. The
older woman ran after her, stumbling, sobbing, putting hands of
imploring pity on her.

Although no word was spoken, Lydia suddenly screamed out as though she
had been stabbed. "_NO! Not that!_" she cried.

"Yes, yes, my poor darling!" said the other.

Lydia turned slowly around. "Then it is too late. We never can do
better," she said.

Miss Burgess tried helplessly to unburden her kind heart of its aching
sympathy. "You spoke of a little disagreement, but, oh, my dear, don't
let that be the last thought. Think of the years of perfect love and
knowledge you had together."

"We never knew each other," said Lydia. Her voice did not tremble.

"Oh, don't! don't!" pleaded Miss Burgess, alarmed. "You mustn't let it
unhinge you so! Such a perfect marriage!"

"We were never married," said Lydia. She leaned against the wall and
closed her eyes.

"Oh, help! Someone!" called the poor reporter. "Somebody come quick."

Lydia opened her eyes. She spoke still in a low, steady voice, but in it
now was a shocking quality from which the other shrank back terrified.
"_I could have loved him!_" she said.

"Quick--'Stashie--hurry--keep the baby out of the room! Your mistress
has fainted!"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

BOOK IV

"BUT IT IS NOT TOO LATE FOR ARIADNE"

CHAPTER XXXI

PROTECTION FROM THE MINOTAUR

Dr. Melton burst open the door of the house in the Black Rock woods, and
runn