morning. He must have taken a chill, for
he looked so bad in the dawn."

"He did what any other decent man would have done in his place."

"It was rather surprising of him, considering how fiercely we
quarrelled!" and feeling the need of confession, she poured out the
whole story of her shame into her friend's ears. "Even now I grow hot
with humiliation when I think of it! I cannot understand why he did it,
for it was not as if he had fallen in love! Only because he thought I
was a--a--flirt, like others he had known."

Honor's face was very white as she listened, silent and stricken.

"I just had to tell you, dear, or the load of it on my mind would have
killed me. I feel as if I were guilty of a crime against Ray; and, poor
darling, he does not understand what is wrong!"

"Why don't you tell him and get it over? He loves you enough to make the
telling easy. And if you love him enough, why, it can only end happily,"
said Honor with an effort.

"There would be a tragedy!--I dare not. Ray would kill him for having
dared to insult me like that! You have no idea of what I have been
through! Captain Dalton said I was asleep and needed awakening! I have
awakened in right earnest and know that I have been a wicked fool. How I
long to be loved and forgiven! Oh, Honor! when Ray looks at me so
anxiously and lovingly, I just want to be allowed to cry my heart out in
his arms and confess everything; but I simply cannot, with this dread of
consequences. Nor can I make up to him with this wretched thing on my
conscience! Why didn't I listen to you!"

"There is not much use in crying over spilt milk, is there? The best
thing you can do is to bury it and be everything to your husband that he
wishes. You must try to atone. If you love him----"

"I do! There is no other man in the world so much to me. I did not
realise how much I cared till Captain Dalton made me, by his outrageous
behaviour! I am not fit for Ray's love after knowing how I have lowered
myself!"

"You will not mend matters by creating a misunderstanding between
yourself and your husband. What is he to think if you continue to shrink
from his caresses?"

"He will think I don't care at all, and that is so untrue!"

"Can't you see that, with your own hand, you are building up a barrier
between you which will be difficult to pull down at will?"

"When I am able to tell him all about it, he will understand. At present
I feel shamed and degraded. I feel myself a