ly----' he paused, and there was deep feeling in his voice,
'for your children's sake.'

But though he could hear her sob as though in extremity of anguish, she
made him no answer, nor could he induce her to speak again until they
reached the Gray Cottage, where the fly stopped, and he got out and
assisted her to alight. She kept her face averted from him.

'I will be with you to-morrow,' he repeated, as he touched her hand.

But to this there was no audible reply; she only bowed her head as she
passed through the gate he held open for her, and disappeared from his
sight.

CHAPTER XXXII

'I DID NOT LOVE HIM'

'When a man begins to do wrong, he cannot answer for himself how
far he may be carried on. He does not see beforehand; he cannot
know where he will find himself after the sin is committed. One
false step forces him to another.'--NEWMAN.

'An Italian proverb, too well known, declares that if you would
succeed you must not be too good.'--EMERSON.

Audrey found Michael strangely uncommunicative that evening; he hardly
responded to her expressions of pleasure at seeing him again, and all
her questions were answered as briefly as possible. His manner was as
kind as ever; indeed, he spoke to her with more than his usual
gentleness; but during dinner he seemed to find conversation difficult,
and all her little jokes fell flat. She wanted to know how many pretty
things he had bought, and if he had put down his name for the proof
engraving of a certain picture he had longed to possess.

'Twenty guineas is nothing to you now, Michael,' she observed playfully.

'No, I forgot all about the picture,' he returned, starting up from his
chair; 'but I have brought you a present.'

And the next moment he put in her hand a little case. When Audrey opened
it, there was a small cross studded with diamonds of great beauty and
lustre, and the whole effect was so sparkling and dainty that Audrey
quite flushed with surprise and pleasure.

'Oh, mother, look how beautiful! But, Michael, how dare you waste your
money on me; this must have cost a fortune!' And then she added a little
thoughtfully, 'I am afraid Cyril will be sorry when he sees this; he is
always lamenting that he cannot give me things.'

'I chose a bracelet for Geraldine,' he returned carelessly, as though
buying diamonds were an everyday business with him. 'Would you like to
see it?' and he showed her the contents of the oth