tion, and are both determined to begin a new life
together in gratitude for the Divine Countenance."

Dalton suppressed a sound that was almost a sob while he defiantly
blinked away a tear. "Sweet little Puritan!--" He covered her hand with
kisses. "But it will be a terrible day for me when that martinet of a
conscience sits in judgment on my sins. It makes me wish with all my
heart that I may be dead before then! I'd risk damnation to----"

"Oh, hush!----"

"To have you mine, anyway. Does that shock you? It's the truth," and
Honor was pained and greatly puzzled.

But he was not often in such a strange frame of mind. There were times
when he was a different man, almost boyish in his merriment, and full of
a determined optimism. He would build castles in the air for them both
to live in, and make her laugh just for the sake of admiring her
beautiful teeth.

It was early in March when Honor, having lost much of her reserve,
discussed Jack's affair with Dalton and deplored his inevitable ruin.
"Tommy says he'll be done for in every way if he marries her, but he
will do so in spite of everything."

"More fool he."

"He's been very weak and very wicked," sighed Honor; "but _she_ began
it. We watched it start, and Jack walk, as it were, blindfold into a
trap. It seems terrible that she should escape and he receive all the
punishment!"

"Generally, it is the other way about!"

"Jack's punishment will be life-long. He will never be a happy man.
Already, he is almost ill for thinking of it. His people are so proud
and would never receive Mrs. Fox. Can't anything be done? You don't
think he is obliged to marry her?"

"Not Mrs. Fox. Circumstances alter cases. She had her eyes wide open and
played her cards for this. It would serve a woman like that jolly well
right if young Darling gave her the slip. Tell Tommy to prevail on him
to see me. What he wants is a medical certificate and leave home for six
months. I'm very much mistaken if that doesn't change the complexion of
things considerably."

"But he has no real illness!"

"I dare say I'll find him really ill when I overhaul him. He looks on
the verge of a break-down. I have never seen a lad go off as he has done
the past few months."

"That is because, at heart, Jack is not really a bad fellow. It is just
that he is deplorably weak; and remorse for having yielded to
temptation, is tormenting his soul. In proper hands he would shape quite
well."

Dalton was as