s trembling.

"Who is Luzanne, and what does it mean?" What she had read was
startling.

He slowly seated himself beside her. "I will tell you."

When Carnac had ended his painful story, she said to him: "It's
terrible--oh, terrible. But there was divorce."

"Yes, but they told me I couldn't get a divorce. Yet I wish now I'd
tried for it. I've never heard a word from the girl till I got that
letter. It isn't strange she hasn't moved in the thing till now. It was
I that should have acted; and she knew that. She means business, that's
clear, and it'll be hard to prove I didn't marry her with eyes wide
open. It gets between me and my work and my plans for the future;
between--"

"Between you and Junia," she said mournfully. "Don't you think you ought
to get a divorce for Junia's sake, if nothing else?"

"Yes, of course. But I'm not sure I could get a divorce--evidence is
so strong against me, and it was a year ago! If I can see Luzanne again
perhaps I can get her to tear up the marriage-lines--that's what I want.
She isn't all bad. I must go again to New York; and Junia can wait. I'm
not much, I know--not worth waiting for, maybe, but I'm in earnest where
Junia's concerned. I could make a little home for her at once, and a
better one as time went on, if she would marry me."

After a moment of silence, Carnac added: "I'm going to New York. Don't
you think I ought to go?"

The gaunt, handsome face of the woman darkened, and then she answered:
"Yes."

There was silence again for a moment, deep and painful, and then Carnac
spoke.

"Mother, I don't think father is well. I see a great change in him. He
hasn't long to travel, and some day you'll have everything. He might
make you run the business, with Tarboe as manager."

She shuddered slightly. "With Tarboe--I never thought of that--with
Tarboe!... Are you going to wait for--your father? He'll be here
presently."

"No, I'm off. I'll go down the garden, through the bushes," he said....
"Mother, I've got nearer you to-night than in all the rest of my life."

She kissed him fondly. "You're going away, but I hope you'll come back
in time."

He knew she meant Junia.

"Yes, I hope I'll come back in time."

A moment later he was gone, out of the sidedoor, through the bushes, and
down the hill, running like a boy. He had for the first time talked to
his mother about the life of their home; the facts she told him stripped
away the curtain that hid the secret things