got a
little more than enough. He cringed from the other's blazing eyes, and
said no more.

Stonor bent over Clare. "Don't, don't grieve so!" he murmured.
"Everything is all right now."

"I know," she whispered. "It's just--just relief. I'm just silly now.
To-day was too much--too much to bear!"

"I know," he said. "Come away with me."

He helped her to her feet and they walked away along the beach. Imbrie's
eyes as they followed were not pleasant to see.

"Martin, I must touch you--to prove that you're real," she said
appealingly. "Is it wrong?"

"Take my arm," he said. He drew her close to his side.

"Martin, that man cannot ever have been my husband. It is not possible I
could ever have given myself to such a one!"

"I don't believe he is."

"Martin, I meant to throw myself in the river to-night if you had not
come."

"Ah, don't! I can't bear it! I saw."

"My flesh crawls at him! To be alone with such a monster--so terribly
alone--I can't tell you----!"

"Don't distress yourself so!"

"I'm not--now. I'm relieving myself. I've got to talk, or my head will
burst. The thing that keeps things in broke just now. I've got to talk.
I suppose I'm putting it all off on you now."

"I guess I can stand it," he said grimly.

She asked very low: "Do you love me, Martin?"

"You know I do."

"Yes, I know, but I had to make you say it, because I've got to tell
you. I love you. I adore you. If loving you in my mind is wicked, I
shall have to be a wicked woman. Oh, I'll keep the law. From what I
told you in the beginning, I must have already done some man a wrong. I
shall not wrong another. But I had to tell you. You knew already, so it
can do no great harm."

He glanced back at Imbrie. "If the law should insist on keeping up such
a horrible thing it would have to be defied," he said--"even if I am a
policeman!"

"I tell you he is not the man."

"I hope you're right."

"But if I am not free, I should not let you ruin yourself on my
account."

"Ruin? That's only a word. A man's all right as long as he can work."

"Oh, Martin, it seems as if I brought trouble and unhappiness on all
whom I approach!"

"That's nonsense!" he said quickly. "You've made me! However this thing
turns out. You've brought beauty into my life. You've taken me out of
myself. You've given me an ideal to live up to!"

"Ah, how sweet for you to say it!" she murmured. "It makes me feel real.
I am only a poor wandering ghost of a wom