was here at last,
and he was so far beggared that he had no price to offer in payment for
it which was worth a thousandth part its value. He was bankrupt and had
sought to buy this treasure, and must now needs go through life as a
swindler. Even if his hopes were granted, what had he to pay? He knew
at this moment as clearly as if he had even then been enlightened by
the events of later years that there were scores of women who would draw
their skirts away in a real disdain of an association of which they were
not worthy. And he knew also that if his own hopes failed him he had
spoiled the one life in the whole world he would fain have done his best
to gladden.

The next pause lasted long. Day after day went by and no message came.
It is not more than justice to chronicle the fact that Paul Armstrong
did grow for once in his life to feel more for another than for himself,
and if he suffered anguish, as he did, it was on Madge's account much
rather than his own. The cry her confession had wrung from him was
always in his mind: 'What have I done? My God, what _have_ I done?'

These days were a stern discipline, but they came to an end at last. A
note reached him at the end of a week in which Mrs. Hampton presented
her compliments to Mr. Armstrong, with a request that he would call that
afternoon at five o'clock. This, of course, conveyed no certainty to him
in either one direction or another, but it awoke an extraordinary tumult
in his mind, and he found himself in the neighbourhood of the Prahran
villa a full hour before the time appointed. He sauntered in the
broiling heat and blinding light until he lost himself repeatedly in
strange places and rang at the doors of strange houses to inquire his
way back again, quite frenzied by the fear of missing his appointment In
effect, he arrived at the instant, and was ushered into the room he had
already visited. Mrs. Hampton sat there, looking very pale and stern,
he thought, and she rose upon his entrance and offered him her hand. It
seemed to him that this cost her a considerable effort, and she resumed
her seat without a word. Madge was there also, but she exchanged no
greeting with Paul, and did not even meet his glance. The hostess
touched a bell upon the table which stood near her, and after a silent
pause a trim parlourmaid brought in a tray upon which was set out the
materials for afternoon tea. Mrs. Hampton began to busy herself about
the tray, and Madge handed a cup