e to know that the depth of Alida's
distress was the adequate cause. If there had been a false or an
affected word, he would have remained cool enough. In his inability to
gauge his own nature as well as hers, he feared lest this businesslike
marriage was verging toward sentiment on her part. He did not like her
kissing his hand. He was profoundly sorry for her, but so he would
have been for any other woman suffering under the burden of a great
wrong. He felt that it would be embarrassing if she entertained
sentiments toward him which he could not reciprocate, and open
manifestations of regard would remind him of that horror of his life,
Mrs. Mumpson. He was not incapable of quick, strong sympathy in any
instance of genuine trouble, but he was one of those men who would
shrink in natural recoil from any marked evidence of a woman's
preference unless the counterpart of her regard existed in his own
breast.

To a woman of Alida's intuition the way in which he withdrew his hand
and the expression of his face had a world of meaning. She would not
need a second hint. Yet she did not misjudge him; she knew that he
meant what he had said and had said all that he meant. She was also
aware that he had not and never could understand the depths of fear and
suffering from which his hand was lifting her. Her gratitude was akin
to that of a lost soul saved, and that was all she had involuntarily
expressed. She sat down again and quietly dried her eyes, while in her
heart she purposed to show her gratitude by patient assiduity in
learning to do what he required.

Holcroft was now bent upon carrying out his plan as quickly as possible
and returning home. He therefore asked, "Can you go with me at once,
Alida?"

She simply bowed her acquiescence.

"That's sensible. Perhaps you had better get your things ready while I
and Mr. Watterly go and arrange with Justice Harkins."

Alida averted her face with a sort of shame which a woman feels who
admits such a truth. "I haven't anything, sir, but a hat and cloak to
put on. I came away and left everything."

"And I'm glad of it," said Holcroft heartily. "I wouldn't want you to
bring anything which that scoundrel gave you." He paced the room
thoughtfully a moment or two and then he called Watterly in. "It's
settled, Tom. Alida will be Mrs. Holcroft as soon as we can see the
justice. Do you think we could persuade him to come here?"

"One thing at a time. Mrs. Holcroft,