ed and mirthless laugh as she mentally
recalled the words, "The woman gave me, and I did eat."

"Judge you hastily? Such a situation requires no explanation. It is
plainly a confession of guilt, or it could not have been."

"By that do you mean you will take action?"

"Action?--do you mean, divorce you?"

"Yes."

"Perhaps you would like to marry Mrs. Dalton if her husband gives her
up!" she said bitterly, hardly recognising the tones of her own voice.

"Good God!--never!" he shuddered involuntarily.

"I do not understand you."

"You would not believe me if I told you."

"I am beginning to understand more of men than I did when we parted. It
seems, you could make love to this lady without being in love with her?
You even humiliated me in the eyes of the world, merely for the sake of
a vulgar intrigue?"

She astonished Meredith with every word she spoke. His little Joyce had
suddenly become a woman, a thousand times more wonderful than he had
ever known her.

"I am innocent of anything but an ordinary flirtation, of which I am
heartily ashamed, believe it or not," he returned pacing the floor
restlessly, his face pallid, his eyes miserable. "What are you going to
do?" coming to a stop before her. It was as well that he should know the
worst she contemplated.

"I don't know ... but I cannot advertise my shame to the world!" she
said icily as she turned to leave the room.

"Where are you going?"

"There is my trunk. I shall need to engage a room."

"Sit down by the fire, and I will see to everything for you."

Joyce sank nervelessly into a chair and saw him leave the room, only to
re-enter shortly afterwards with the news that the hotel, being full,
she would have to occupy his own bedroom while he made shift with the
dressing-room attached.

Joyce scarcely heeded him. So long as he was not to share her room,
nothing mattered. "And what about the Planters' Ball tonight?" she asked
to his profound surprise. "Are you going?"

"I was, but not now. How can you ask?" What on earth was she after?

"Why not? I would rather you kept your engagement--and--took me."

Meredith stared, wide-eyed. "You?" For the moment he thought her mind
deranged. How could she contemplate taking part in a frivolous social
function in the midst of their tragedy? Their lives were sundered; their
happiness blasted; and she was thinking of the Planters' Ball!

Joyce was thinking of the women who were expecting to enjoy the
spect