whole congregation were so interested to see the young pair, and
they had to do some handshakings, as they came out. What would all these
good people think, Tristram wondered with bitter humor, when they heard
that he had gone away on a long tour, leaving his beautiful bride alone,
not a month after their marriage? But he was past caring what they
thought, one way or another, now.

Zara went to her room when they got back to the house, and when she came
down to tea he was not there, and she had hers alone with Jake.

She felt almost afraid to go to dinner. It was so evident he was
avoiding her. And while she stood undecided her maid brought in a note:

"I ask you not to come down--I cannot bear it. I will see you to-morrow
morning, before I go, if you will come to my sitting-room at twelve."

That was all.

And, more passionately wretched than she had ever been in her life, she
went to bed.

She used the whole strength of her will to control herself next morning.
She must not show any emotion, no matter how she should feel. It was not
that she had any pride left, or would not have willingly fallen into his
arms; but she felt no woman could do so, unsolicited and when a man
plainly showed her he held her in disdain.

So it was, with both their hearts breaking, they met in the
sitting-room.

"I have only ten minutes," he said constrainedly. "The motor is at the
door. I have to go round by Bury St. Edmunds; it is an hour out of my
way, and I must be in London at five o'clock, as I leave for Paris by
the night mail. Will you sit down, please, and I will be as brief as I
can."

She fell, rather than sank, into a chair. She felt a singing in her
ears; she must not faint--she was so very weak from her recent illness.

"I have arranged that you stay here at Wrayth until you care to make
fresh arrangements for yourself," he began, averting his eyes, and
speaking in a cold, passionless voice. "But if I can help it, after I
leave here to-day I will never see you again. There need be no public
scandal; it is unnecessary that people should be told anything; they can
think what they like. I will explain to my mother that the marriage was
a mistake and we have agreed to part--that is all. And you can live as
you please and I will do the same. I do not reproach you for the ruin
you have brought upon my life. It was my own fault for marrying you so
heedlessly. But I loved you so--!" And then his voice broke suddenly
with a