r before Heaven that I
will make you happy."

But Nan held back with horror, almost with loathing, in her eyes. She did
not utter a word. There was no need.

His hand fell. For a second the fire that smouldered in his eyes shot
upwards to a flame, but it died down again instantly. He turned from her
in silence and picked up her cloak.

He did not look at her as he handed it to her, and Nan did not dare to
look at him. Dumbly she forced her trembling body into subjection to
her will. She crossed the hall without faltering, and went without sound
or backward glance up the stairs. And the man was left alone in the
flickering firelight.

CHAPTER VIII

To Mona fell the task of making preparation for Nan's departure, for Nan
herself did not raise a finger to that end. Three days only remained to
her of the old free life--three days in which to bid farewell to
everybody and everything she knew and loved.

Her husband did not attempt to obtrude his presence upon her during those
three days. The man's patience was immense, cloaking him as with a
garment of passive strength. He was merely a guest in Colonel Everard's
house, and a silent guest at that.

No one knew what had passed between him and his young wife on the night
of the Hunt Ball, but it was generally understood that he had asserted
his authority over her after a fashion that admitted of no resistance.
Only Mona could have told of the white-faced, terrified girl who had lain
trembling in her arms all through the dark hours that had followed their
interview, but Mona knew when to hold her peace, though it was no love
for her brother-in-law that sealed her lips.

So, with a set face, she packed her sister's belongings, never faltering,
scarcely pausing for thought, till on the very last day she finished her
task, and then sat musing alone in the darkness of the winter evening.

Nan had been out all the afternoon, no one knew exactly where, though it
was supposed that she was paying farewell visits. The Colonel, whose
courteous instincts would not suffer him to neglect a guest, had been out
shooting with his son-in-law all day long. Mona heard them come tramping
up the drive and enter the house, as she sat above in the dark. She
listened without moving, and knew that one of her sisters was giving
them tea in the hall.

Two hours passed, but Nan did not return. Mona rose at last to dress for
dinner. Her face shone pale as she lighted her lamp, but her ey