from
him, would you advise him to go and leave her? Or the other way about.
Should the wife go, if she was sure that by staying she did the man
harm?"

Herrick was tired, disheartened by the frequent scenes with his wife,
depressed by the grim autumn night; therefore for once his sympathies
wore dormant and his intuition slept.

He had no idea that Toni was speaking personally, that she was calling
on him to help her to make the most important decision of her life; and
he was, moreover, in a mood which found the idea of self-sacrifice, of
renunciation of one's own happiness strangely attractive.

"If he--or she--were practically convinced that departure would be the
best way out--for both--why then I should say by all means go." In the
darkness he did not see Toni's sudden deathly pallor. "Of course it
would always be rather hard to be quite sure on that point; but in a
case where one could be more or less certain--well, perhaps I'm wrong,
but I should say the step would be thoroughly justifiable."

For a perceptibly long moment Toni did not speak. Then she changed the
subject abruptly by asking her companion the time; and after striking
one or two matches he was able to assure her that it was just six.

"Oh, then Owen will be back." She hastened her steps as she spoke, and
there was little more conversation between them as they hurried along.

At the gate he bade her farewell, refusing an invitation to enter; and
Toni went through the garden into the house, there to be met by a
telegram from Owen announcing that he had been delayed in town and would
not be home in time for dinner.

Toni was oddly relieved by this fact. She had an important matter to
think out; and for once Owen's absence was welcome.

She dined alone, a rather forlorn little figure in the big dining-room;
and after her hurried meal she went into the drawing-room and stood
looking out over the lawn with unseeing eyes.

The night had turned warm, unseasonably so for November, and Toni
suddenly felt a great desire to be out in the air among the trees and
shrubs, which were faintly perceptible in the light of a thin and waning
moon.

Kate, surprised by an imperative summons, brought a wrap as directed;
and calling Jock to accompany her, Toni stepped out of the long window
on to the gravel outside.

For a moment Kate stood watching her young mistress, struck by something
a little desolate in her appearance; but when Toni had moved slowly away