ou--how I have felt toward you since you spoke those words in this
room; those words that came to me as the light from heaven came to Saul
of Tarsus; words of salvation. Believe me, I shall never forget them."

"I am so glad," said she. "I am glad, though, as I say, I understand
nothing."

Then there had been a long interval of silence before she had asked him
something further regarding the yachting party.

And now she was lying on her bed trying to recall every word that he had
spoken, and with a dread over her that what he had said would bear out
that terrible suspicion which she had prayed to God to forgive her for
entertaining on that night when Ella had gone home with her husband.

No rumor had reached her ears regarding the closeness of the intimacy
existing between Mr. Courtland and Mrs. Linton; and thus it was that
when that suspicion had come upon her, after Ella had left her, she felt
that she was guilty of something akin to a crime--a horrible breach of
friendship, only to be expiated by tears and prayers.

That terrible thought had been borne upon her as a suggestion to account
for much that she could not understand in the words and the behavior of
Ella during that remarkable evening; and, in spite of her remorse and
her prayers, she could not rid herself of it. It left its impression
upon her mind, upon her heart. Hitherto she had only heard about the way
an unlawful passion sweeps over two people, causing them to fling to the
winds all considerations of home, of husband, of religion, of honor; and
she felt it to be very terrible to be brought face to face with such a
power; it seemed to her as terrible as to be brought face to face with
that personal Satan in whom she believed.

It only required such a hint as that which had come from George Holland
to set her smoldering suspicion--suspicion of a suspicion--in a flame.
It had flamed up before him in those words which she had spoken to him.
If Ella were guilty, he, George Holland, was to be held responsible for
her guilt.

But Ella was not guilty; Herbert Courtland was not guilty.

"No, no, no!" she cried, in the solitude of her chamber. "She did not
talk as a guilty woman would talk; and he--he went straight out of the
room where I had told him what Mrs. Haddon said about his mother, his
sister--straight aboard the yacht; and she----"

All at once the truth flashed upon her; the truth--she felt that it was
the truth; and both of them were guiltle