"How absurd of me. It's Jerry; Jerry and Jane. Mrs. Paxton, this is Mr. Christiansen," she added, leading him to Jane. His face went slowly white. "Mrs. Paxton?" he questioned. "Mr. Christiansen and I are friends," Jane said, with dry lips, giving him a limp hand. "Not very good ones, I fear, since I hear this news of you so casually. My felicitations, Mrs. Paxton," he added. "Where is your lucky husband?" "Right at hand, thank you. How are you, Mr. Christiansen? I hear that you and my wife are old friends," said Jerry jocularly. "You are a very fortunate man, Mr. Paxton; I congratulate you," the big fellow answered. The gaiety began again, the moment was passed. At the first opportunity Christiansen came to Jane's side. "Where can we talk?" "There is a balcony at the end of the room. Let us go there." He followed her. When they were seated, in the half shadows, he leaned to her. "What has happened to you?" "Oh, please understand! It means so much to me to have you understand," she said tensely. "Of course, I shall understand. Now----" "I didn't write to you because I felt I could not explain in a letter. I was waiting for you to come home so we could talk it out." "I see. When did it happen?" "Two weeks ago." "You love him?" "No." "Why then----" "Do you remember my saying I was sorry for him--wanted to mother him?" "You married him for that?" "That was what I could bring him. I married him because I wanted to begin living. When he asked me, I hesitated; it seemed such madness. It was your words which spurred me on: 'Come, child, let's be about your living.' I am about it now, Mr. Christiansen." "Child, child, what have you done? Does he love you?" "No; he wanted me for protection against other women." "Beast!" "No, no. We started in, open-eyed, neither of us sentimentalizing the situation. If you examine motives, his were as good as mine." "You are happy?" "N--no, but I'm thrilled all the time with a sense of doing, living, being!" "And the work?" "Laid aside for a time. But when I get back to it, I shall come like a Greek, bearing gifts!" "Does he know about your work?" "No. I felt he might laugh at me. I offered to tell him all about myself, but he did not want to hear, so I let it go. I have thought since, that I should have made him listen." "How did he happen to offer you this bargain?" "I think I came upon him in a climax. You see, Mrs. Brendon wanted to marry him to that Miss Morton, with or without his consent. He has never said this, but I have gathered it. Then on the cruise, a sixteen-year-old girl became infatuated with him, and ran away to come north with him. I think he has had some complication with an artist girl since he came home. It really is hard on him, because he doesn't seem to do the courting." "And you married him, knowing this?" "I married him because of it." "But don't you see the danger of that nature, unless it is held by love or passion?" "Yes."