d, with the intention of not returning till after t

talk with her sister-in-law still hung upon him uneasily. But of definite apprehensions the lapse of time gradually freed him, and Madame de Malrive's

y cast off the ugly badge of suspicion. The fact that Durham's cleverness had achieved so easy a victory over forces apparently impregnable, merely raised her estimate of that cleverness to the point of letting her feel that she could rest in it without farther demur. He had even noticed in her, during his few hours in Paris, a tendency to reproach herself for her lack of charity, and a desire, almost as fervent as his own, to expiate it by exaggerated recognition of the disinterestedness of her opponents-if opponents they could still be called. This sudden change in her attitude was peculiarly movin

to go to France to confer with a business associate who was in Paris for a few days, and on the point of sailing for Cherbourg. The most zealous observance of appearances could hardly forbid Durham's return for such a purpose; but it had been agreed between himself and Madame

is passing through Paris on her way from Trouville, and has promised to see you for me if you will call on her today. She thinks there is no reason why you

present to the almost human consciousness which such old houses seem to possess, made him feel like a barbarian desecrating the silence of a temple of the earlier faith. Not that there was anything venerable in the attestations of the H?tel de Malrive, except in so far as, to a sensitive imagination, every concrete embodiment of a past order of things testifies to real convictions once suffered for. Durham, at any rate, always alive in practical issue

e meant to carry off her share of the adventure. Durham had not forgotten the note on which their last conversation ha

rds implied a recognition o

t que voulez vous? There was no other place, an

o me that you are also do

reasons," she returned smiling. "But before

installed herself, and he listened in silence while she delivered Mada

e concluded; "I wish you would make the expression of this feeli

you are here-and the mere sight of you assures me that you are as well as Fanny charged me to find you-with all

quickly. "By letting me

motion. "By asking you

s very lit

ttle to your race." She leaned back, s

y me," he

when she spoke, her first words were

ce did you an injustice, to the extent of misu

his recognition of her meaning.

your assent

ory you can find to say on that po

my view of you perhaps mak

who have an amende to make, as I now understand the situation. I once turned to you for help in a

sons-" groa

them," she persisted, "by bein

told her!"

f our talk together. She had confidently commissioned you to find a way for her, as the mediaeval lady sent a prayer to her knight to deliver her from captivity, and you came back, confessing you had failed, but never justifying yourself by so much as a hint of the reason why. And when I had lived a little in Fanny's intimacy-at a moment when circumstances helped to bring us extraordinarily close-I understood why you had done this; why you had let her take what view she pleased of your failur

y: "Have I understood you? Have

dued by the rush of emotio

a faint smile; and he answered hesitatingly: "What can it

I have suffered-suffered! But I have learned also-my life has been enlarged. You see how I hav

ink that you can ever have been incap

on, which resolved itself into

ways translated life! But that," she brok

, "that I am here to learn the

d look. "Ah, no-but to

it? And

answering: "Do you remember that day I talked with yo

I answered, the contemplation of your happiness. Well, do you know what that meant in my old language-the language I was still speak

donment, like a fevered sufferer stripping the bandage from a wound.

do you mean?"

e had used to enforce her appeal in Mrs. Boykin's boudoir. The remembranc

she enquired, "why our family c

ing in a dark throng about him. "But Fanny was so reass

Americans, learn that we do not act individually in such cases

t was n

"Oh, you are too confiding-it is the o

e taken advantage

. I especially!