o dig
pitfalls for the unwary and the best have been known to succumb. That is
why a wife's place should be beside her husband throughout life, as the
whole fabric of their happiness depends upon their unity. Separations
make for misunderstandings and division; so, whatever happens, come out.
Men and babies want looking after, and to my mind, Man is the greater
baby of the two, for he wants more than a nurse to care for his bodily
wants. He needs a wife with a combination of virtues, the chief among
them being _tolerance_. My mother's life has demonstrated this to me
with beautiful clearness, hence my understanding.

"You might be anxious at having to travel alone at such a time, but in
your place I would take any risk to be with my husband, if I loved him
deeply. That is the crux of the matter. Later on, conditions may become
still more difficult. Cable when you are leaving, and _don't hesitate_."

The appeal was very sincere, and thrilled Joyce with apprehensions. To
be urged to travel at the risk of capture by German raiders at large on
the high seas, that she might rejoin her husband without loss of time,
argued that something was seriously wrong. Honor was her true friend and
would not counsel such a step without reference to that husband, unless
something was decidedly wrong. Whom was she to obey? Her husband, who
had cabled to her to stay where she was? or Honor, who was urging her to
go out at once?

* * * * *

While Joyce pondered over her dilemma, the fate of two people dear to
her was being decided elsewhere.

CHAPTER XXI

THE REAL THING

Jack had come to the conclusion that it was impossible to part from
Kitty Wynthrop with his love unconfessed. It was unthinkable that he
should go out to India, loving Kitty as he did, and marry--Mrs. Fox!
Bah! he consigned the latter, remorselessly, to perdition.

Whatever befell, he would speak to Kitty that very night--dear little
girl!--he had wasted too much time already over his confounded doubts
and fears, and had little enough time to spare. If she favoured
him--why, he would be the luckiest, as well as the happiest of men! Some
day, when he was absolutely sure of her and her love, he would confess
his misconduct in the past, lest she should hear of it from others--she
might; there was no knowing, with all those meddlesome cats about!--and
perhaps he would obtain her forgiveness, after which he would be
faithful unto h