e, Wide World,' I presume."

He sat down on the bench near her. Carlos stalked out of the bushes,
surveyed them, and then, with great dignity, secluded himself again.

"He misses Garda," Margaret said.

"I suppose Garda is still pursuing her triumphant career over there?"

"I don't know what you mean by triumphant. She is very happy."

"That's what I mean; it's extremely triumphant to be so happy, isn't
it?"

"I am sure I don't know."

"You mean you have never been either?--Margaret, I have come to speak
about your going away. Are you still thinking of going?"

"Yes; as soon as I am a little stronger."

"Aunt Katrina has sent me to plead with you; of course that's the last
thing she calls it, but it's pleading all the same. I don't make any
plea for her, because I don't think, as far as you are concerned, she
deserves the least fragment of one; but I will say that I have told her
the whole truth about Lanse at last, and that it has been a great blow
to her, I have never seen her so much overcome. She has rallied however,
she has taken her line; her line is the tenderest pity for you,
_because_ you must feel it all to be so entirely your own fault!--you
see how much that allows her? But she is so exceedingly
anxious--abjectly anxious, to keep you with her, that I think you need
fear no unpleasant manifestations of it."

"Aunt Katrina does not really need me. And for myself a change is
indispensable."

"But it is so safe for you here--so quiet and protected. It is a species
of home, after all. I like to see you, as you are at this moment,
sitting in this old garden; it seems to me so much pleasanter for
you--with this restful air to breathe--than that bustling, driving New
York."

"It may be so. But I need change."

"You cling to that." He paused. "I believe you simply mean freedom."

"Yes, I do mean it. But we are going over the same ground we have
already been over; that is useless."

"Everything is changed to me since then," said Winthrop, abruptly. "I
have seen you brought back from the very threshold of death, I cannot
pretend to be the same."

"I am the same."

"Yes; you didn't see _yourself_--"

"Don't talk about it, please. It is true that, personally, I do not
realize it. But when I think of Mr. Moore, I do; and it makes me ill and
faint."

"Why shouldn't you begin your freedom--yes; but begin it here?" he went
on, returning to his argument. "Aunt Katrina has taken a new line about
you.