the thick veil and unpinned her hat. Her
hands trembled, and in her eyes and about her mouth there was the
weariness of ages. Yet, not all this weariness, not all these transitory
lines of pain, took away one jot of her beauty.

"Kitty," she began sadly, "in this world no one trusts us wholly. We
must know why, why; loyalty must have reasons, chivalry must have facts.
You have vowed your love and loyalty a hundred times, and still, when a
great crisis confronts me, you question, you grow angry, you complain,
because my reasons are unknown to you. Because I am lonely, because I
feel the need of even your half-hearted loyalty, I shall tell you why,
why. Do you know what terror is? No. Well, it was blind terror which
made me run. I counted not the consequences; my one thought was of
instant flight. I shall tell you why I am lonely, why the world, bright
to you, is dark. I am proud, but I shall bend my pride." With a quick
movement she lifted her head high and her eyes burned into Kitty's very
heart. "I am--"

"Stop! No, no! I forbid you!" Kitty put her hands over her ears. She
might gain the secret, but she knew that she would lose the heart of the
woman it concerned. "I am wrong, wrong. I have promised to follow you
loyally, without question. I will keep that promise. I am only angry
because you would not let me speak to Mr. Hillard. And when he called me
by name, it was doubly hard. Had I not seen your hand waving from the
doorway, I should have spoken. Who this Italian is I do not care. It is
sufficient that you fear him. And I myself harbor no kind feelings
toward him," rubbing her bruised wrist. "And if he comes down one side
of the street I shall take to the other, to say nothing of dodging round
the nearest corner. But he is very handsome," Kitty added thoughtfully.

"Are vipers handsome?"

"He is strong, too."

"Strong and cruel as a tiger. How I hate him! But thank you, Kitty,
thank you. Sooner or later, if we stay together, I must tell you. The
confidence will do me good. Look into my eyes." Kitty approached, and La
Signorina drew her close. "Look in them. They will tell you that I have
neither conspired nor plotted, save for my own happiness; that I have
wrought harm to no one. But on my side they will tell you that I have
been terribly wronged. And all I wish is to be left alone, alone. It was
cruel of me to forbid you to speak to Mr. Hillard. But I do not want him
tangled up in this miserable, hopeless la