'No, and perhaps it would have been well if he had never come to my house.' There was not so much insincerity in the phrase as may at first appear. Nearly all women consider it necessary to maintain to themselves and to others that they deeply regret having sinned. The delusion at once pleases and consoles them, and they cling to it to the last. 'I often think of you,' said Montgomery. 'Yours appears to me such a romantic story ... you who sat all day and mi-mi--' he was going to say minding a sick husband, but for fear of wounding her feelings he altered the sentence to 'and never, or hardly ever, left Hanley in your life, should be going about the country with us.' Kate, who guessed what he had intended saying, answered: 'Yes, I'm afraid I've been very wicked. I often think of it and you must despise me. That's what makes me ashamed to go about with the rest of the company. I'm always wondering what they think of me. Tell me, do tell me the truth; I don't mind hearing it. What do they say about me? Do they abuse me very much?' 'Abuse you? They abuse you for being a pretty woman, I suppose; but as for anything else, good heavens! they'd look well! Why, you're far the most respectable one among the lot. Don't you know that?' 'I suspected Beaumont was not quite right, perhaps; but you don't mean to say there isn't one? Not that little thing with fair hair who sings in the chorus?' 'Well, yes, they say she's all right. There are one or two, perhaps; but when it comes to asking me if Beaumont and Leslie are down on you--well!' Montgomery burst out laughing. This decided expression of opinion was grateful to Kate's feelings, and the conversation might have been pursued with advantage, but seeing an opportunity of speaking of Dick, she said: 'But you told me there was nothing between Mr. Bret and Miss Leslie.' 'I told you I didn't know whether there was or not; but I'm quite sure there never was between her and Dick. You see I can guess what you're trying to get at.' 'I can scarcely believe it. Now I think of it, I remember she was in his room the night of the row, when he turned me out.' 'Yes, yes; but there were a lot of us. The principals in a company generally stick together. It's extraordinary how you women will keep on nagging at a thing. I swear to you that I'm as certain as I stand here there was never anything between them. Do let us talk of something else.' They had now wandered back to the fine pebbly beach, to within a hundred yards of the pier, and above the high cliff they could just see the red chimney-stacks of the town. Montgomery sang his waltz softly over, but before he arrived at the second part his thoughts wandered, and he said: 'Have you heard anything of your husband since you left Hanley?' The abruptness of the question made Kate start; but she was not offended, and she answered: 'No, I haven't. I wonder what he'll do.' 'Possibly apply for a divorce. If he does, you'll be able to marry Dick.'