val brute. He had no respect for her; he regarded her as
something he had a right to force his will upon. She was his
plaything, his mistress--not his wife. When, heated with wine, he
approached her, a horrible, meaning smile on his face, he seemed to
take possession of her as of something he had a right to, something he
had bought and paid for and which was his alone to enjoy.

It was impossible to go on living like this. Unless she asserted her
womanhood he would gradually degrade her to his own level. She
suffered silently, atrociously, feeling her degradation all the more
keenly because of her intelligence which rebelled against the
injustice and ignominy of it. Her womanhood revolted against this
continual, humiliating subjection to the will of the male, of which
her sex was the victim. She suffered as thousands of women have done
before her, as only a woman can suffer when in spite of herself,
against her own inclination and will, she is forced to submit to the
unwelcome caresses of a man she no longer loves, a man she can no
longer respect. There was only one way out. He must either swear never
again to touch a drop of liquor or she would leave him forever. Yes,
that was the only way. She would rather suffer any privation than put
up with his brutality.

Then, in calmer moments, she hesitated. It would not do to be too
hasty. Perhaps he would never again offend in that way. He had broken
each promise, it was true, but he seemed so sorry each time, so filled
with remorse. Ought she to give him another trial? In her dilemma she
decided to ask counsel of her sister. She would not tell Fanny
everything, of course; that would be too dreadful, too humiliating.
She would merely ask her what she herself would do under similar
provocation.

An opportunity soon presented itself. Frequently during the Winter she
invited Fanny to go with her to the opera, and sometimes when there
were to be several outings, her sister would come and stay at the
Stafford home for several days, bringing her baby with her, a suite
having been set apart for the Gillies' exclusive use. The house was so
large that Virginia could well spare the room. Besides, she liked to
have her sister's companionship.

It was on the last night of one of these protracted visits that Robert
Stafford's wife found the long-waited-for chance to unburden her
heart. She and Fanny had been to the opera and just returned home.
Virginia was in her boudoir, still wear