aldron. It can never be too late.
But what I mean is that--just now I spoke of offering no woman a
clouded name. Even if it were unclouded, I could not offer it where I
would."

"Because you have heard of the engagement?" was the quick, eager
question. There was no instant of doubt in the woman as to where the
offering would be made, if it only could.

"I knew of the engagement only a day ago," he answered, with stern
effort at self-control. "Blake was speaking of her, and it came out all
of a sudden."

He turned his head away again. It was more than Mrs. Waldron could
stand. She leaned impetuously towards him, and put her hand on his:

"Mr. Hayne, that is no engagement of heart to heart. It is entirely a
thing of Mrs. Rayner's doing; and I _know_ it. She is
poor,--dependent,--and has been simply sold into bondage."

"And you think she cares nothing for the position, the wealth and social
advantages, this would give her? Ah, Mrs. Waldron, consider."

"I _have_ considered. Mr. Hayne, if I were a man, like you, that child
should never go back to him. And they are going next week. You _must_
get well."

It was remarked that Mr. Hayne was out surprisingly quick for a fellow
who had been so recently threatened with brain-fever. The Rayners were
to go East at once, so it was said, though the captain's leave of
absence had not yet been ordered. The colonel could grant him seven days
at any time, and he had telegraphic notification that there would be no
objection when the formal application reached the War Department. Rayner
called at the colonel's office and asked that he might be permitted to
start with his wife and sister. His second lieutenant would move in and
occupy his quarters and take care of all his personal effects during
their absence; and Lieutenant Hayne was a most thorough officer, and he
felt that in turning over his company to him he left it in excellent
hands. The colonel saw the misery in the captain's face, and he was
touched by both looks and words:

"You must not take this last affair too much to heart, Captain Rayner.
We in the ----th have known Captain Buxton so many years that with us
there is no question as to where all the blame lies. It seems, too, to
be clearly understood by Mr. Hayne. As for your previous ideas of that
officer, I consider it too delicate a matter to speak of. You must see,
however, how entirely beyond reproach his general character appears to
have been. But here's anothe