h the other woman continued her speech.

"I expect everyone knows I have been in prison." Luckily she did not
raise her voice; and Herrick, possibly foreseeing the necessity, had
taken care to engage the chauffeur in conversation. "Eighteen
months--almost--spent in _hell_. Oh!" Her small, sharp teeth bit her lip
venomously. "It drives me mad to think of it. And it could all have been
avoided if my husband had been a man."

"Oh!" Toni revolted inwardly against her callousness.

"Oh, I suppose he's told you some tale or other." Mrs. Herrick spoke
fiercely, and all her childish beauty waned beneath her passion; "Well,
whatever he says, it is I who have paid the bill. Prison! My God, you
don't know what it is to be shut up in a cell like a beast--to be
ordered about like a dog, to be starved on coarse food, made to sleep on
a bed you wouldn't dare to give your servant!"

Toni, very pale, tried to stem the torrent of her words.

"Mrs. Herrick--please--really I don't think you ought to say this to
me----"

"Ought? Why do you say that?" Eva Herrick looked contemptuously at her
would-be mentor. "If you had been shut up as I have been, you would talk
as you liked. Thank God I can talk if I can do nothing else."

Quite suddenly her manner changed. She gave a little laugh which was
oddly fascinating, and laid her hand on Toni's arm.

"Come, now, Mrs. Rose, don't be getting angry with me." Her brogue lent
a charm to her speech. "I'll admit I've no earthly right to talk so;
it's bad form to begin with and a poor return for your kindness. But
remember, I've gone through an experience that's enough to kill a woman,
and you can't expect me to forget it all at once. So you must forgive
me. Will you?"

"Oh, of course I will." Toni spoke quickly. "And I had no right to speak
as I did. But--you must forget all that is past. Won't you try?"

"Sure, I'll try." Eva's lovely eyes filled with tears. "But I know what
will happen. Your husband won't let you know me, of course, and if Jim
and I are left alone, we'll be murdering one another one fine day."

"Oh, please don't talk so. Of course my husband will let me know you,"
said Toni in distress; and she was glad to find from the slackening of
the car that their conversation must be cut short.

Jim Herrick, more silent and worn-looking than Toni had ever seen him,
helped his wife to alight and then shook hands gratefully with Toni.

"So many thanks, Mrs. Rose." His big, bright eyes