wistfulness of a breaking heart, "neither Caroline nor myself are
worthy of Captain Holliday's love. Caroline has told you her
fault, but mine is perhaps a worse one. The ring--the scarf--the
diamond pins--I took them all--took them if I did not retain
them. A curse has been over my life--the curse of a longing I
could not combat. But love was working a change in me. Since I
have known Captain Holliday--but that's all over. I was mad to
think I could be happy with such memories in my life. I shall
never marry now--or touch jewels again--my own or another's.
Father, father, you won't go back on your girl! I couldn't see
Caroline suffer for what I have done. You will pardon me and
help--help--"

Her voice choked. She flung herself into her father's arms; his
head bent over hers, and for an instant not a soul in the room
moved. Then Miss Hughson gave a spring and caught her by the
hand. "We are inseparable," said she, and kissed the hand,
murmuring, "Now is our time to show it."

Then other lips fell upon those cold and trembling fingers, which
seemed to warm under these embraces. And then a tear. It
came from the hard eye of Caroline, and remained a sacred secret
between the two.

"You have your pendant?"

Mr. Driscoll's suffering eye shone down on Violet Strange's
uplifted face as she advanced to say good-bye preparatory to
departure.