Glancing at his wife, he added ruefully: "I feel that I'm
going to need it."

Fanny halted and at that moment there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," said Virginia.

Oku entered with a pitcher oL ice water and glasses. Salaaming low, he
said:

"Excuse--please, Excuse!"

The butler filled a glass and offered it to Virginia, but she shook
her head. He then offered it to Fanny, who also declined.

"Not them," smiled Stafford, "me!"

Draining the glass he handed it back.

"Anything else?" asked the man politely.

"No."

"Then excuse, please! Excuse."

The butler apologetically picked up his tray and started to go when
his master stopped him.

"Here!"

Oku stopped, and his master made a sign to him to put the tray and
ice-water on the table again.

"You want me leave water?"

"Yes!"

The butler placed the tray on the table.

"Anything else, sir?"

"No."

"Then excuse, please! Excuse!"

Oku withdrew and Fanny approached her sister, who was seated at the
window idly gazing into the street. Stafford rose and joined them.

"Well, dear?" he stammered nervously.

"Now I--I must go!" exclaimed Fanny.

"Please!" pleaded Stafford, motioning her not to desert him.

"But the baby," exclaimed his sister-in-law.

"Oh, come!" he laughed. "Don't desert a comrade in distress."

"But she might need me--really she might. So--excuse me."

She hurried away and for some minutes after she had gone there was
complete silence. Virginia made no movement and Stafford, afraid to
begin talking, contented himself by watching her. At last, unable to
keep up the artificial restraint any longer he said:

"Dearie, before you say a word I want to tell you that I'm sorry for
the condition I was in when I came home last night. I'm dreadfully
sorry, and ashamed--"

She did not turn round and for a moment she made no reply. He thought
she had not heard. Then, coldly, she said:

"Do you know what you said to me?"

He advanced closer and, in the most apologetic manner possible, went
on:

"Sweetheart, I was drunk last night and I'm sorry. I'm ashamed--and I
apologize! I've got a dreadful head this morning and I'm as nervous as
I can be! So don't bother me any more than you have to, will you,
dearie? Be nice to me this morning. Come on now, dearie, be nice to
me!"

She rose from her chair and confronted him. Her face was pale and
determined looking. There was no love in it now, nothing but the
expression of a woman