"Oh, I'm drunk," went on the voice; "but you took me for better or worse, Leo; yes, you did, so help me God!--and here you keep me waiting in the cold and the wet--in the cold and the wet. But you'll kiss me just once, Leo? That'll make it all right. Take me in, I tell you, and give me warmth; give me food and drink--drink, yes, drink!" "Roddick!" shouted Griff. He feared this evil creature as he had never yet feared man. A shadow came before the hall lamp, and Roddick stood at his side. "What is it?" he demanded testily. "A vampire, or a mad witch, or something. Why the devil can't she come into the light and give us a fair chance?" They heard the sound of heavy footsteps crunching the gravel; the gate opened and clashed again; there was nothing to be seen but darkness, nothing to be felt but the clean, fresh wind. "You have guessed half my secret now, I fancy--the wrong half," said Roddick, with a harsh laugh. "Good night. I must go and find her." CHAPTER XII. RELEASE. As Griff was dressing, on the morning after his discovery of Roddick's secret, there flashed into his brain just a single word. "Divorce!" he cried. "Why did I never think of that before? Why didn't Roddick suggest it last night? If only Strangeways will do it, we shall have our chance of happiness." So wonderful was the thought of freedom that he scarcely paused to look on the darker side of the question, to realize what it would mean to Kate to be branded for life. "You are looking better than I have seen you look for a week past," said Mrs. Lomax, when he came down to breakfast. "I'm feeling better, mother. Things have been a bit askew with me lately, but there are signs of clearing." "You don't usually keep your troubles from me, Griff." The old lady was watching him keenly. He hesitated a moment, then-- "I will tell you all about it to-night," he said. And she was satisfied. Breakfast over, he went and saddled Lassie, and rode to Peewit. Kate was looking drearily out of the window facing Marshcotes when he came in. He strode across the room and took her face in his two big hands and kissed her; it seemed so natural that she well-nigh forgot to rebuke him. "I have not been here since--since that night--because I was blind to your need," he began. "I never guessed that matters had gone so far. Little woman, have they bullied you while I was away?" In her present mood she could not withstand just that kind of tenderness. She crept into his arms, and hid her face, and fondled him nervously with her hands, as if she were afraid of his escaping her. "Griff, it is hard to bear," she whispered, and broke down utterly. "So long you have kept away from me--it was right, of course--but----" She looked up after awhile, and dried her eyes, and put him away. "What are we going to do?" she asked. He caught at the underlying suggestion, and for the life of him he could not keep the gladness out of his voice. "Does he mean to apply for a divorce?" he asked.