Again he strove to laugh, and again it was a wretched failure.

Lady Kingsland's light-blue eyes never left his face.

"I think you do, Jasper. Since the night of our boy's birth you have
been another man. What is it?"

A spasm crossed the baronet's face; his lips twitched convulsively; his
face slowly changed to a gray, ashen pallor.

"What is it?" the lady slowly reiterated. "Surely my husband, after
all these years, has no secrets from me?"

The tender reproach of her tone, of her eyes, stung the husband, who
loved her, to the quick.

"For God's sake, Olivia, don't ask me!" he cried passionately. "It
would be sheerest nonsense in your eyes, I know. You would but laugh
at what half drives me mad!"

Jasper!"

"Don't look at me with that reproachful face, Olivia! It is true. You
would look upon it as sheerest folly, I tell you, and laugh at me for a
credulous fool."

"No," said Lady Kingsland, quietly, and a little coldly. "You know me
better. I could never laugh at what gives my husband pain."

"Pain! I have lived in torment ever since, and yet--who knows?--it may