"I did not pause at the gate you entered," said she. "I went in
after you."

A gasp of irresistible feeling escaped him, but he did not take
his eyes from her face.

"It was a long time before you came out," she went on, "but
previous to that time the shade of a certain window was thrust
aside, and---"

"Hush!" he commanded, in uncontrollable passion, pressing his hand
with impulsive energy against her mouth. "Not another word of
that, or I shall forget you are a woman or that I have ever loved
you."

Her eyes, which were all she had remaining to plead with, took on
a peculiar look of quiet satisfaction, and power. Seeing it, he
let his hand fall and for the first time began to regard her with
anything but a lover's eyes.

"I was the only person in sight at that time," she continued. "You
have nothing to fear from the world at large."

"Fear?"

The word made its own echo; she had no need to emphasise it even
by a smile. But she watched him as it sunk into his consciousness
with an intentness it took all his strength to sustain. Suddenly
her bearing and expression changed. The few remains of sweetness