"I believe I replied that because a bad woman had caused him misery and suffering in the past, it was no reason why he should not win and hold the love of a good girl, and that because of the sorrow he had endured, I felt the more assured in trusting my child's happiness into his keeping." "That was sweet of you, mother; but did it not occur to you that there was just--a little risk?" "How?" "I don't think that John is a man who would forget easily." "Good Heavens, child! what do you mean? you cannot doubt the sincerity of his protestations of affection for you, surely?" Her daughter laughed. "I certainly do not wish him to be more demonstrative, mother dear; love-making is the most boring process imaginable; but still, I should prefer, I must confess, that there was no under-current of feeling for wife number one." "You amaze me, Ethel, by suggesting such a horrible idea. The woman may be dead for anything I know; at all events, she left England before he obtained his divorce, and no one has heard anything of her since. It is extremely improbable that she will ever return to this country." But in this, as we know, the Duchess was in grave error. At that very moment Bella was sitting by the open piano in her cosy apartments in a street off the Strand, idly striking a note here and there and humming the air of a new song; but her cough, which was incessant, made singing almost out of the question. "I believe I'm getting worse," she cried, rising and flinging herself on the sofa, "I'm sure I was not so bad as this three months ago--not so bad when--he never came. Ah! why should he? How could I expect it? Perhaps to-day may have been his wedding day! Come in." The door opened noisily, and Saidie Blackall, very much over-dressed and distinctly rouged and made up, entered, followed by Mr. and Mrs. Doss, looking precisely the same as on that memorable night when they had been the innocent cause of so much trouble to Bella's husband. The old music-hall singer and his wife had lost no time in looking her up when she returned from the States, and were really well-meaning, kindly folk. "Hallo, Bella, you look done up!" "I am," admitted the girl wearily. "It was as much as I could do to pull through to-night, and I have got a beastly new song to tackle." "I don't like your cough, my dear," said Mrs. Doss, looking distressed; "it shakes you to bits." "I've got a little more cold, I fancy; but I'll be all right in a day or two." "You're not looking the thing--I saw you from the front to-night--and--well, I guess it was a bit of a heffort to sing at all, eh?" Bella turned quickly and looked sharply into Mr. Doss's face. "If you have got anything disagreeable to say, don't be afraid, out with it. I suppose you have jumped to the notion that I'm dying?" She tried to laugh, but it was a piteous attempt, and ended in a fit of coughing which left her white and trembling in every limb.