She paused. She would have fallen again; but Rand, seeing more in her
face than her voice interpreted to his sullen ears, took her sullenly
in his arms, and carried her to the cabin. Her eyes glanced around the
bright party-colored walls, and a faint smile came to her lips as she
put aside her bonnet, adorned with a companion pinion of the bright
wings that covered it.

"Which is Ruth's bed?" she asked.

Rand pointed to it.

"Lay me there!"

Rand would have hesitated, but, with another look at her face, complied.

She lay quite still a moment. Presently she said, "Give me some brandy
or whiskey!"

Rand was silent and confused.

"I forgot," she added half bitterly. "I know you have not that commonest
and cheapest of vices."

She lay quite still again. Suddenly she raised herself partly on her
elbow, and in a strong, firm voice, said, "Rand!"

"Yes, Mornie."

"If you are wise and practical, as you assume to be, you will do what I
ask you without a question. If you do it AT ONCE, you may save yourself