any more. Jack is going to see Trevor,
and--and try to make him understand. I didn't want him to, but he would
do it. But he has promised me that Trevor shan't follow me here. Do you
think he will be able to prevent him? Do you? Do you?"

She shuddered afresh uncontrollably at the bare thought, and Hilda had
some difficulty in calming her.

"Dearest, I am sure he will never come to you against your will," she
said, with conviction. "I am sure you needn't be afraid. But oh, Chris,
my darling, he is your husband. Always remember that!"

"I know! I know!" Feverishly Chris made answer, and Hilda knew that
she must not pursue this subject. "But I can never see him again,
never--never--never! I think it would kill me. Besides--besides--" She
broke off inarticulately, and Hilda did not press her to finish.

She found that she must not speak much of Bertrand either, though she did
venture to ask why the Valpre escapade had ever been kept from Trevor in
the first place.

"I really can't quite explain," Chris answered wearily. "When it dawned
on me that vile things had been said and actually a duel fought because
of it I felt as if I would rather die than let him know. Besides, at the
back of my mind, I think I somehow always knew--though I did not
realize--that--Bertie--came first with me, and I--I was terrified lest
Trevor should suspect it. Of course it doesn't matter now," she ended.
"He knows it all, and--as he says--we have done with each other." She
uttered a long, quivering sigh, and turned her face into the pillow.

"My darling, so long as you both live, that can never be," Hilda said
very earnestly. "Whatever mistakes you have made, you are still his and
he is yours. Nothing can alter that."

"He doesn't think so," said Chris. "In fact, he--he told me to go to
Bertie, so that--so that"--she shivered again--"he could set me free."

"Oh, Chris, he did--that?"

"Yes, I think he meant it for my sake as much as for his own. But I
couldn't do it. You see, I don't know where Bertie has gone for one
thing. And then--I know Bertie would have thought it wrong. You see"--the
tears were running down her face again--"we love each other so much,
and--and love like ours is holy. He said so."

"I wonder how he learned that," Hilda said. "It is not a creed that most
men hold."

"But Bertie is not like most men." Very softly came Chris's answer, and
through her tears her eyes shone with the light that is kindled by
nothing e