Mildred hated the woman for the humiliation she was imposing upon her,
but in her heart she could not but feel admiration for such single
heartedness. Noticing on Mildred's face the change of expression, but
misinterpreting it, Ellen said:

'I can read you through and through. You have wrecked two lives. Oh,
that any one should be so wicked, that any one should delight in
wickedness. I cannot understand.'

'You are accusing me wrongly.... But let me go. It is not likely that
we shall arrive at any understanding.'

'Go then, you came to gloat; you have gloated, go.

Ellen threw herself on a chair by the bedside. Her head fell on her
hands. Mildred whisked her black crape dress out of the studio.




XIII.


It was not until the spring was far advanced that the nostalgia of the
boulevards began to creep into her life. Then, without intermission,
the desire to get away grew more persistent, at last she could think
of nothing else. Harold oppressed her. But Mrs. Fargus was not in
France, she could not live alone. But why could she not live alone?

Although she asked herself this question, Mildred felt that she could