have
the heart to feel a little pity for me!"

"I do pity you," said Honor, relenting.

"If he would only forgive me! But he is so hard. He spurns my every
effort to humble myself. He has no faith in me. I killed it! But if he
would only give me a chance, I would be a better woman, I swear it! A
kind word and look--oh, what wouldn't I do to atone! Miss Bright, you
can help me!"

"I?"

"Yes. You! Natures like yours are great." Mrs. Dalton's voice broke with
a sob and she wrung her hands in genuine emotion. "You may not credit me
with sincerity, but I am not wholly bad. Brian is my husband--whenever I
look at him I realise all that I have lost forever--unless, a miracle
happens and he forgives me! If he could do that, I would be his slave. I
would be at his feet! What a life is mine! The emptiness of it!--the
futility of it! Who cares for women like myself? Women at a loose end
who have spoilt their lives, and are trying to patch up some kind of
forbidden happiness for themselves? It is just a form of gambling; wild
excitement while it lasts. But it never lasts long! Think what I feel
tonight! Here am I, a married woman among so many--with a fine
husband,--he is that!--hard and cold, yet such a _man_!--and I might
have been so happy. I might have had children!" Mrs. Dalton broke down
into violent sobbing and Honor guided her to a bench that she might weep
unrestrainedly and so find relief.

It was a strange position for herself, who a moment ago was filled with
repulsion, to find that she could fold the unhappy woman in her arms and
attempt to console her with words.

"I quite understand. Believe me, I _do_ understand. It has been like
losing the substance for the shadow."

"Just that. Oh, why couldn't I have looked ahead and seen this day! But
I was mad and blind. Women must be insane when they commit these
irrevocable acts! It is only men who can retrieve such mistakes--women,
_never_!"

"It is unfair to us," said Honor for her sex.

"It is damned unfair!" said Mrs. Dalton fiercely. "Why can't he forgive
me and let me have another chance? God forgives; why not man?"

"Perhaps he might--some day."

"Do you say that? Oh, Miss Bright!--now I know why everyone loves you."
She seized Honor's hand and kissed it passionately. "Will you plead for
me? This is what I want of you. Will you do it? He would listen to you
if he listened to no one else in the world. I am truly heart-broken, and
done with folly and consc