for the guilty.

What can she do? What must she do? She can not go to him; she, by her
own act, has cut off all friendly intercourse between them. But,
something must be done, shall be done.

Suddenly, she bends down, and looks long and earnestly into the face of
the sleeper. The dark lashes rest upon cheeks that are pale as ivory;
the face looks torture-stricken; the beautiful lips quiver with the pain
of some dismal dream.

Involuntarily, this cry escapes the lips of the watcher:

"My God! To think that two noble lives must be blasted, because of that
pitiful, worthless thing, that lies below."

The moments drag on heavily, her thoughts gradually shaping themselves
into a resolve, while she watches by the bedside and waits the return of
Mrs. Lamotte. At last, she comes, and there is an added shade of sorrow
in her dark eyes; Evan is very ill, she fears for his reason, too.

"What has come upon my children, Constance?" she asks, brokenly; "even
Frank has changed for the worse."

"Poor Evan," sighs Constance, thinking of his loyal love for Sybil; and
thus with her new resolve strong in her mind, she says, briefly:

"I must go to town at once, Mrs. Lamotte, and will return as soon as
possible. Can you spare me without too much weight upon yourself."

Without a question, Mrs. Lamotte bids her go; and very soon she is
driving swiftly toward W----, behind the splendid Lamotte horses.

Straight to Lawyer O'Meara she is whirled, and by the time she reaches
the gate, she is as calm as an iceberg.

Coming down the steps is a familiar form, that of her aunt, Mrs.
Aliston. Each lady seems a trifle disconcerted by this unexpected
meeting; neither is inclined to explain her presence there.

Mrs. Aliston appears the more disturbed and startled of the two; she
starts and flushes, guiltily, at sight of her niece.

But, Constance is intent upon her errand; she pauses long enough to
inquire after her aunt's health, to report that Sybil is much the same,
and Evan ill, and then she says:

"Is Mr. O'Meara at home, Aunt Honor?"

"Yes. That is, I believe so," stammers Mrs. Aliston.

"Then I must not detain you, or delay myself; good morning, auntie;" and
she enters the house, leaving Mrs. Aliston looking perplexed and
troubled.

Ushered into the presence of Mr. O'Meara, Constance wastes no words.

"Mr. O'Meara," she begins, in her most straightforward manner, "I have
just come from Mapleton, where I have been with Sybil