ded her head and smiled kind like at me and went."

I could not answer Burton--I too just nodded my head--and the dear old
boy left me alone--My very heart seemed bursting with pain and
remorse--When he had gone--I seized the letter and opened it.

* * * * *

"To Sir Nicholas Thormonde, Bart, V.C.," (it began, and then)

"Dear Sir:

Circumstances force me to work--so I shall have to remain in your
service--if you require me. I am unfortunately quite defenceless, so I
appeal to whatever chivalry there is in you not to make it so impossible
that I must again give in my resignation.

Yours faithfully,
A. Sharp."

* * * * *

I fell back in my chair in an agony of emotion--My darling! My
queen!--whose very footprints I worship--to have had to write such a
letter--to me!

The unspeakable brute beast I felt! All my cynical calculations about
women fell from me--I saw myself as I had been all day--utterly
selfish--not really feeling for her grief, only making capital out of it
for my own benefit--. At that moment, and for the rest of the day and
night, I suffered every shade of self reproach and abasement a man can
feel. And next day I had to stay in bed because I had done some stupid
thing to my leg in lying down without help.

When I knew I could not get into Paris by Saturday when Alathea was to
come to the flat--I sent Burton in with a note to the shop in the Avenue
Mosart.

"Dear Miss Sharp--(I wrote)

"I am deeply grateful for your magnanimity. I am utterly ashamed of my
weakness--and you will not have called upon my chivalry in vain, I
promise you.--I have to stay in bed, so I cannot be at the flat, and if
you receive this in time I shall be obliged if you will come out here
again on Saturday.

Yours very truly,
Nicholas Thormonde."

Then I never slept all night with thoughts of longing and wondering if
she would get it soon enough to come.

Over and over in my vision I saw the picture of her sitting there in
Burton's room sobbing--My action was the last straw--My shameful
action!--Burton showed the good taste and the sympathy and understanding
for her which I should have done--. And to think that she is troubled