close her eyes in misery. If--if--only--

But they went on slowly until the top landing was just above their
heads. Both knew that the top landing must bring the termination of all.

She took the door-key in her hand, went a little ahead of him and fitted
it noiselessly into the lock. It turned. The end was at hand. She looked
towards him and attempted a smile. He put the match-box on the window
ledge and drew her within his arms.

"It is for the first and the last time," he said hoarsely, and then he
kissed her furiously, passionately,--twice, thrice, and once again.
"_C'est comme ca, l'amour!_" he whispered; "and because you know nothing
of it, you let it go from you."

Then he put his hand to his throat as if strangling, and, opening the
door, stepped aside.

"Good-bye," he murmured, as she passed within. "_Bon voyage!_"

The door closed between them.

* * * * *

She went to her room and found Ottillie asleep upon the sofa.

She crossed to the window, opened it softly and leaned out; after a
little she heard the door beneath open and close, and then his shadow
fell beneath the electric light.

Then he was gone!

This time there would be no return.

The moisture of his lips was yet upon her own, and he was gone forever.

* * * * *

She crossed the room and fell upon her knees beside the bed.

PART III

THE BREAKING OF THE BARRIERS

Chapter Fourteen

It was very early, very dark, very cheerless, that most miserable hour
of six o'clock in the morning, the very worst hour ever known in which
to be routed out of bed in order that an unpleasant journey may be
begun.

Without, it was faintly light; within, it was brightly gas. What is less
cheerful than the aspect given a room by the gas burning high at six
o'clock in the morning? Rosina's room looked absolutely ghastly, for it
was bare of everything but travelling apparatus, and they were all
strapped and waiting. She herself sat before her untouched breakfast
tray and watched Ottillie lace her boots, while she dismally went over
for the two hundred and seventy-sixth time every detail of the night
before the last.

There was a tap at the door and Jack came in. He was tanned with his
recent trip and had a thrilling new travelling ulster with carved
deer-horn buttons. He had bought the buttons at the Tagernsee and had
had an ulster constructed in Vienna, just as a background for