I might understand, if you felt willing to tell me, if the
effort is not too great."

She opened her eyes and fixed them apathetically on the strong helpful
face.

"I wonder if you could understand--I don't know--you're not a woman--"

"No, but I am human, Mrs. Googe; and human sympathy is a great
enlightener."

"The weight here--and here!" She raised one hand to her head, the other
she laid over her heart. "If I could get rid of that for one hour--I
should be strong again--to live--to endure."

Father Honore was silent. He knew the long pent stream of grief and
misery must flow in its own channel when once it should burst its
bounds.

"My son must never know--you will give me your word?"

"I give you my word, Mrs. Googe."

She leaned forward from her pillows, looked anxiously at the door, which
was open into the hall, then whispered:

"She said--my son was Louis Champney's--bastard;--_you_ don't believe
it, do you?"

For the space of a second Father Honore shrank within himself. He could
not tell at that moment whether he had here to do with an overwrought
brain, with a mind obsessed, or with an awful fact. But he answered
without hesitation and out of his inmost conviction:

"No, I do not believe it, Mrs. Googe."

"I thought you wouldn't--Octavius didn't." She sighed profoundly as if
relieved from pain. "That's why she hates me--why she will not help."

"In that case I will go to Mr. Van Ostend. I asked to see you that I
might tell you this."

"Will you--oh, will you?" She sighed again--a sigh of great physical
relief, for she placed her hand again over her heart, pressing it hard.

"That helps here," she said, passing her other hand over her forehead;
"perhaps I can tell you now, before you go--perhaps it will help more."

Her voice grew stronger with every full breath she was now able to draw.
Gradually a look of comprehension replaced the apathetic stare. She
looked squarely at the priest for the first time since his entrance.
Father Honore could but wonder if the thought behind that look would
find adequate expression.

"You haven't said 'God' to me once since that--that night. Don't speak
to me about Him now, will you? He's too far away--it doesn't mean
anything to me."

"Mrs. Googe, there comes a time in most lives when God seems so far away
that we can find Him only through the Human;--perhaps such a time has
come in your life."

"I don't know; I never thought much about that. But--my g