sk your
forgiveness. Of course we neither of us had the slightest idea of the
possibility that yesterday's telegram could be incorrect. He sails for
America almost immediately, but could not bring himself to leave England
without having expressed to you his contrition, and obtained your pardon.
He would have written, but did not feel he ought, for your sake, to run
the risk of putting explanations on to paper. Also I honestly believe it
is breaking his heart, poor fellow, to feel that you and he parted
forever, in anger. His love for you is a very great love, Myra."

"Oh, Jane," cried Lady Ingleby, "I cannot let him go! And yet--I _cannot_
marry him. I love him with every fibre of my whole being, and yet I
cannot trust him. Oh, Jane, what shall I do?"

"You must give him a chance," said Mrs. Dalmain, "to retrieve his
mistake, and to prove himself the man we know him to be. Say to him,
without explanation, what you have just said to me: that you _cannot let
him go_; and see how he takes it. Listen, Myra. The unforeseen
developments of the last few hours have put it into your power to give
Jim Airth his chance. You must not rob him of it. Years ago, when Garth
and I were in an apparently hopeless tangle of irretrievable mistake,
Deryck found us a way out. He said if Garth could go _behind his
blindness_ and express an opinion which he only could have given while he
had his sight, the question might be solved. I need not trouble you with
details, but that was exactly what happened, and our great happiness
resulted. Now, in your case, Jim Airth must be given the chance to go
_behind his madness_, regain his own self-respect, and prove himself
worthy of your trust. Have you told any one of the second telegram from
Cairo?"

"I saw nobody," said Lady Ingleby, "from the moment Sir Deryck left me,
until you walked in."

"Very well. Then you, and Deryck, and I, are the only people in England
who know of it. Jim Airth will have no idea of any change of conditions
since yesterday. Do you see what that means, Myra?"

Lady Ingleby's pale face flushed. "Oh Jane, I dare not! If he failed
again----"

"He will not fail," replied Mrs. Dalmain, with decision; "but should he
do so, he will have proved himself, as you say, unworthy of your trust.
Then--you can forgive him, and let him go."

"I cannot let him go!" cried Myra. "And yet I cannot marry him, unless he
is all I have believed him to be."

"Ah, my dear, my dear!" said Mrs.