"That is no comparison," she said scornfully. "When the body is
whole nothing is impossible. I should feel that the Universe was
reeling if I saw you go down before adversity. I could as readily
imagine myself letting go, and I am only a woman."

"Oh, I should never fear for you," he said bitterly. "What with your
immutable principles, your religion, and your proud position in the
Society of San Francisco to sustain you, you would come through the
fiery furnace unscathed."

"Yes, but the furnace! The furnace!"

She threw out her hands with a gesture of despair, her high spirits
routed before a sudden blinding vision of the future. "Does any woman
ever escape that?"

One of her hands brushed his and he caught it irresistibly. But he
dropped it at once. There was a sound of horses' hoofs behind them.
He had been vaguely aware of cantering hoof-beats in the distance for
several minutes.

Two men passed, and one of them took off his hat with a low mocking
sweep and bowed almost to the saddle. It was old Ben Travers.

"What on earth is he doing in town?" muttered Masters in
exasperation. No one had told him of the New Year's Day episode, but
he knew him for what he was.

Madeleine was fallowing the small trim figure on the large chestnut