She suddenly gave a cry of shame and agony, a low trembling cry, as
though her heart-strings were being dragged out. She drew back from him
--back to the middle of the room.

He came towards her, reaching out his arms. "Forgive me," he said.

"Oh, no, never!" she cried with horror.

The cry had been heard outside, and Houghton entered the room, to find
his wife, all her strength gone, turning a face of horror upon Cayley.
She stretched out her arms to her husband with a pitiful cry. "Tom," she
said, "Tom, take me away."

He took her gently in his arms.

Cayley stood with his hand upon his horse's neck. "Houghton," he said in
a low voice, "I have been telling your wife what I was, and who I am.
She is shocked. I had better go."

The woman's head had dropped on her husband's shoulder. Houghton waited
to see if she would look up. But she did not.

"Well, good-bye to you both," Cayley said, stepped through the window,
and vaulted on his horse's back. "I'm going to see if the devil's as
black as he's painted." Then, setting spurs to his horse, he galloped
away through the palms to the gate.

......................