innocence and weakness of
that lately crushed childhood. It held in contempt the poor, vain, cheap
thing that had offered, actually offered, itself to a being that came
from a world that knew and had power to despise.

Wave after wave of torment engulfed the poor girl as she lay without a
struggle in her net. The apple of understanding had been forced between
her lips by the refined cruelty of another woman. Instinctively, Janet
found a sort of dumb comfort in the memory of the look she recalled in
Mr. Devant's eyes, but while life lasted her soul would shrivel at the
memory of the glance which that proud, beautiful girl had cast upon her.

The lovely face upon the sea-green pillows paled and flushed as the
flood of growing knowledge gathered force. The eyes grew dark and
terror-racked, and misery claimed the newborn woman.

Then again the key grated in the lock. Strengthened by the perception
that was now hers, the girl sprang to a sitting posture and drew her
feet beneath the shelter of the coarse red skirt. The net ensnared her
further and so she sat, caught fast in the meshes and in the terror of
her condition.

Thornly entered the room, closed and locked the door. Then he opened the
windows wide. His eye and ear would warn him of intruders, and the
breath of the summer day he must have! Janet heard him stop before the
easel; then his laugh, contented and youth-filled, rang clearly in the
little room.

"Beauty!" he muttered. "Great heaven, what almost weird beauty! My
Pimpernel, you'll make me famous!" Then he whistled gayly, hung up his
coat and hat--did not the listening girl know every movement?--drew on
the old paint besmirched jacket, and filled his pipe.

"Dirty wineglasses!" he muttered, "bah! how the stale wine befouls this
air! Outside you go to await your purification!" The glasses were set
jinglingly upon the window ledge. Then Thornly came to the curtain and
flung it heedlessly back.

"Good Lord!" he ejaculated, and staggered away. The panic-stricken face,
that met his, paralyzed him for the moment; then he laughed.

"Pimpernel!" he drew nearer; "dear child, you are as full of surprises
as this glorious day and the Hills. You've brought me a new sensation, a
heaven-sent inspiration. What a partner you are! God bless you!"

"Don't you--touch--me!" Janet warned off the extended hands. Her arms
were free, and they must serve her now.

"Janet! What ails you, child?"

"I do not know. I cannot thi