"I suppose you don't know what an abomination of selfishness you are." She did not seem to hear him, but added, bitterly,-- "Now you have come, my hope is gone." Von Sternburg looked across the room. Friedrich was leaning over Sydney's chair. "It is still in the family, I should say. It merely has changed its abiding-place." A spasm which was the recognition of defeat, not the anguish of loss, went over Hilda's face. She crossed the room to Mrs. Carroll, von Sternburg following slowly after. "Dear Mrs. Car-roll," she said, in English, "Baron von Sternburg has brought news that compels me to leave Oakwood soon--yes, to-morrow. I hope you know how gr-rateful I am to you for your hospitality. Your kindness alvays vill be a br-right spot in my life!" She looked charmingly young and very lovely as she stooped and kissed the old lady's cheek. "To-morrow? Oh, surely not to-morrow!" cried Sydney, in hospitable reproach. "Sydney dear, you are vonderful! I r-really believe you mean it after everything." And she tapped the taller girl's cheek with her tiny hand. She was entirely self-possessed now, much less agitated than the two men who knew her secret, or than Wendell, who had been stricken at the news of her departure; or than Sydney, who was overcome by embarrassment as she came to appreciate the meaning of her guest's speech. "I expect never to see you again, Friedrich; I should pr-refer not; so I vant to make my confession to you now. Oh, any one may hear," she said, in answer to a gesture of Friedrich's. "I am quite indifferent--now. Did the Baron tell you that Max shot himself because I r-refused to give up a flirtation? It is quite tr-rue. I lied to you, Friedrich, and I did an injustice to a man who had conquered the follies of his life. Ah, Mrs. Car-roll, I did not love my husband or vear his name vorthily. I am one of the lost illusions." She looked from one to another in quick observance of their emotion. "Then, my scar," she went on, lightly, "that vas another lie. I've had it ever since I vas a child. And here is something that Baron von Sternburg could not have disclosed. You see I am r-revealing everything. I am sure he told you that I am rich? Yes? But he vas not avare that _I knew_ from Herr Stapfer that you vere depr-riving yourself for me." "Oh, Hilda," cried Mrs. Carroll, in quick censure of the non-restitution that might have averted a life-time's self-reproach from Friedrich, "How could you keep it!" "The money itself vas nothing to me, but I hoped that through Friedrich's poverty I might gain some power over him, and make him do vhat I vanted. I shall see that it is r-restored to you at once, Friedrich." She turned to Wendell, and her face changed subtly. She became the tempting woman, alluring in the innocence of her child-like beauty. "Do you still mean vhat you said to me yesterday, Mr. Vendell?" She leaned towards him a trifle--the merest trifle. Wendell stood silent.