conscious again of his
weakness, almost as a child might be. And these two human beings upon
whom he was leaning were at enmity, not open but secret enmity. He did
not know exactly how, or how much! But Ruby had told him often--things
about Meyer Isaacson. And he knew that Isaacson had mistrusted her, and
felt that he did so still.

"I may go, then?" she said.

He could not in reason forbid her. He thought of her long service.

"Of course, dearest, go. But surely you aren't going to-night?"

"If you'll let me. I shall only take a bag. And the sooner I go, the
sooner I shall be back."

"In two days?"

"In two days."

"And where will you stay?"

"At Shepheard's."

"I don't like your going alone. I wish you had a maid--"

"You've guessed it!" she said.

"What?"

He looked almost startled.

"I didn't like to tell you, but I will now. May I have a maid again?"

"That's what you want, to get a maid?"

She smiled, and looked almost shy.

"I've done splendidly without one. But still--"

From that moment he only pressed, begged her to go.

Isaacson returned to find it was all settled. When he was told, he only
said, "I think it wonderful that Mrs. Armine has managed without a maid
for so long."

Soon afterwards he went to his room, and was shut in there for a
considerable time. He said he had letters to write. Yet he sent no
letters to the post that day.

Meanwhile Mrs. Armine, with the assistance of one of the Nubians, was
packing a few things. Now that at last she was going to do something
definite, she marvelled that she had been able to endure her life of
waiting so long. This movement and planning in connection with a journey
roused in her a secret excitement that was feverish.

"If only I were going away for ever!" she thought, as she went about her
dressing-room. "If only I were never to see my husband and Isaacson
again!"

And with that thought she paused and stood still.

Suppose it really were so! Suppose she found Baroudi, told him all that
had happened, told him her misery, begged him to let her remain with
him! He might be kind. He might for once yield to her wishes instead of
imposing upon her his commands. There would be a great scandal; but what
of that? She did not care any longer for public opinion. She only wanted
now to escape from all that reminded her of Europe, of her former life,
to sink into the bosom of the East and be lost in it for ever. The far
future was nothing to h