thought, she might have done it. But
this call upon her for instant action almost paralysed her. And yet
what other hope was there? She had told herself that she would do
anything, however wicked, however dreadful, that would save her from
the proposed marriage. She had sworn to herself that she would do
something; for that Steinmarc's wife she would never be. And here had
come to her a possibility of escape,--of escape too which had in it
so much of sweetness! She must lie to her aunt. Was not every hour of
life a separate lie? And as for acting a lie, what was the difference
between that and telling it, except in the capability of the liar.
Her aunt had forced her to lie. No truth was any longer possible to
her. Would it not be better to lie for Ludovic Valcarm than to lie
for Peter Steinmarc? She looked at the upright clock which stood in
the corner of the room, and, seeing that the ten minutes was already
passed, she crossed at once over into the kitchen. Her aunt was
standing there, and Tetchen with her bonnet on, was standing by.
Tetchen, as soon as she saw Linda, explained that she must be off
again at once. She had only returned to fetch some article for a
little niece of hers which Madame Staubach had given her.

"Aunt Charlotte," said Linda, "I am very weary. You will not be
angry, will you, if I go to bed?"

"It is not yet nine o'clock, my dear."

"But I am tired, and I fear that I shall lack strength for
to-morrow." Oh, Linda, Linda! But, indeed, had you foreseen the
future, you might have truly said that you would want strength on the
morrow.

"Then go, my dear;" and Madame Staubach kissed her niece and blessed
her, and after that, with careful hand, threw some salt into the pot
that was simmering on the stove. Peter Steinmarc was to dine with
them on the morrow, and he was a man who cared that his soup should
be well seasoned. Linda, terribly smitten by the consciousness of her
own duplicity, went forth, and crept up-stairs to her room. She had
now, as she calculated, a quarter of an hour, and she would wish,
if possible, to be punctual. She looked out for a moment from the
window, and could only see that it was very dark, and could hear that
it was raining hard. She took her thickest cloak and her strongest
hat. She would do in all things as he bade her; and then she tried
to think what else she would take. She was going forth,--whither she
knew not. Then came upon her a thought that on the morrow,-