“Never mind; I should like to hear it. Go on.” “His home-life is a very unhappy one. They say he ill-treats his wife; I know they are never seen together. George told me all about it yesterday; but I did not tell you, because I knew it would pain you. However, it is something for him to have satisfied his ambition, and you see he has done that.” “While I have let mine go----” “Just to settle down into a mere quiet wife and mother. Is that what you are thinking? Do you regret it, Annie?” She turns her soft, dark eyes, bright in the glow of the firelight, toward him, with her head raised proudly. “No, no: I have never regretted it--I never shall. My ambition was very strong, but I did not throw it away; I kept it and clung to it until it was swallowed up in something stronger still; and I think you can guess what that is.” Talk and laughter are going on brightly round them among the members of the reunited family gathered round the glowing fire. Harry does not answer his wife in words; but the firm pressure of his hand as it clasps hers unseen by the rest tells her that he understands that the passion which had absorbed all others in the brilliant actress and the true-hearted woman is her love for him. [THE END.] Transcriber’s notes Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. Variations in hyphenation and accents have been standardised. All other spelling and punctuation remains unchanged. Italics are represented thus _italic_.