“Nestle,” he said in a commanding voice, “you will oblige me by going back to the office. I wish to have a word alone with your sister.” The secretary started, turned, and without a word left the room. For minutes after he was gone Gilead stood steadfastly regarding the tragic young figure before him. And at last he spoke. “Supposing you had been successful in your purpose--what then? Were you to live the lie for ever--you, as my wife?” She stood, the strain relaxed, mute and drooping by the little table. Once and once only had she glanced up at his face; and it had thrilled her with pride to see how the manliness, the nobility in it had suffered no disillusionment to affect them. If sorrow had entered there, will had not surrendered. “I don’t know,” she whispered scarce audibly. “We had not--I think--got as far as considering that.” He gave a little odd laugh. “Typical romancers,” he said--“to end with the wedding bells!” She put her hand upon the table for support. There a little sharp crack, and an involuntary cry from her lips. He hurried to her. The glass of a miniature on which her hand had rested had broken and scratched the ball of her thumb. “Blood!” he said--“I must staunch it--” and he lifted the limb, though she strove to resist, and put the soft pink palm to his lips. She gave a miserable cry--and on the instant he had his arms about her. “Atonement!” he said hoarsely--“you speak of atonement? It must be in giving yourself to the man you have so shamefully deceived. Nothing short of your devoting your life to him can atone.” “No, no,” she whispered; and for the first time the tears came thick to her eyes--“No--no--no--” she seemed incapable of any but that one heart-rent ejaculation. He held her prisoner--fiercely, as though he dreaded that she would escape him. “Do you know,” he said, “to what I was listening all the time the little miserable confession was being uttered? Why, to the chiming of the bells, the singing of the birds, the murmuring of the happy wind, that all began together the moment I heard that Herbert was your brother.” [The End] TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES. I’ve included all the interior images despite the poor quality of the source material. If you can provide better copies please contact Project Gutenberg Support. Minor spelling inconsistencies (_e.g._ dumbfoundered/dumfoundered, frock-coat/frock coat, moneylender/money-lender, etc.) have been preserved. Alterations to the text: Add illustrator’s name to title page. Silently correct a few punctuation errors (quotation mark pairings, missing periods, etc.) Images were moved to be nearer the scene they depict. [Chapter I] Change (she said, “_sinct_ I come here.”) to _since_. [Chapter VII] “and gradually, as he _proceded_ on his way” to _proceeded_. (“You _wont_ do it?”) to _won’t_. [Chapter VIII] “be made to recover the red _morrocco_ handbag” to _morocco_. “and had put the advertisement into the Daily Post” italicize _Daily Post_.