courtesy that was simply mechanical. She
took it without remark, and they passed out through the door which led
into the garden.

There Constance left his side; and, for the first time, their eyes met
as they stood face to face under the bright moon. Guy read his sentence
instantly--a sentence from which there was no appeal. The very
hopelessness of his situation restored its elasticity to the somewhat
sullen pride which was the mainspring of his character. He stood,
waiting for her to speak; and his eyes were not cast down now, but
riveted on her face--gloomily defiant.

"I hope you will believe," Miss Brandon said, "that it was quite
involuntarily I became a spy on your actions. I did not overhear one
word; and my partner had that moment left me, when I saw--" Not all her
self-command could check the shudder that ran through every limb, and
the choking in her throat that would interrupt her.

"I have very little to add," she went on, more steadily. "After what I
witnessed, I need hardly say that we only meet again as the merest
strangers. You might think meanly of me, indeed, if I ever allowed your
lips to touch my cheek or my hand again. Remember, I told you from the
first we were not suited to each other; perhaps I deserve all I have met
with for allowing myself to be overruled. You can not contradict a word
of this, or say that it is unjust or severe."

Did she pause in the expectation or the hope of an excuse, or an appeal
from her hearer? Only the hoarse answer came,

"I have forfeited the right to defend myself or to gainsay you."

"You would find it difficult to do either," Constance rejoined, rather
more haughtily; perhaps she was disappointed in the tone of his reply.
"One word more: if my name is ever called in question, I am sure no one
will defend it more readily than yourself. My voice will never be heard
against you; and if, hereafter, you shall desire my forgiveness more
than you now do; remember, I have given it unasked and freely."

Guy's tone was pregnant with cold, cruel irony as he answered,

"I congratulate you on your position, Miss Brandon; it is quite
unassailable. You are in the right now, as you always have been. You
were right, of course, in always doling out the tokens of your love in
such scanty measure as your pride and your priests would allow. They
ought to canonize you--those holy men! I doubt if they have another
disciple so superior to all human weaknesses. It must be very
g