eally known and
understood--that I have wrecked my life in a blind passion. I have
loved you, Harry; it has been my curse. I followed you against the
warnings of everybody: I have been rewarded--by this. We are in hiding.
If we are found we shall be sent to a convict prison for conspiracy. We
shall be lucky if we are not tried for murder and hanged by the neck
until we are dead. This is my reward!"

"I have never played the hypocrite with you, Iris. I have never
pretended to virtues which I do not possess. So far--"

"Hush! Do not speak to me. I have something more to say, and then I
shall never speak to you any more. Hush! Let me collect my thoughts. I
cannot find the words. I cannot. . . Wait--wait! Oh!" She sat down and
burst into sobbings and moanings. But only for a minute. Then she
sprang to her feet again and dashed back the tears. "Time for crying,"
she said, "when all is done. Harry, listen carefully; these are my last
words. You will never hear from me any more. You must manage your own
life in your own way, to save it or to spoil it; I will never more bear
any part in it. I am going back to England--alone. I shall give up your
name, and I shall take my maiden name again--or some other. I shall
live somewhere quietly where you will not discover me. But perhaps you
will not look for me?"

"I will not," he said. "I owe you so much. I will not look for you."

"As regards the money which I have obtained for you under false
pretences, out of the fifteen thousand pounds for which you were
insured, five thousand have been paid to my private account. I shall
restore to the Company all that money."

"Good Heavens! Iris, you will be prosecuted on a criminal charge."

"Shall I? That will matter little, provided I make reparation. Alas!
who shall make reparation--who shall atone--for the blood-spilling? For
all things else in this world we may make what we call atonement; but
not for the spilling of blood."

"You mean this? You will deliberately do this?"

"I mean every word. I will do nothing and say nothing that will betray
you. But the money that I can restore, I will restore--SO HELP ME,
GOD!" With streaming eyes she raised her hand and pointed upwards.

Her husband bowed his head.

"You have said all you wished to say?" he asked humbly.

"I have said all."

"Let me look in your face once more---so--full--with the light upon it.
Yes; I have loved you, Iris--I have always loved you. Better, far
better, f