"I'm not so any longer,--you understand that?" "I understand," Eve responded. Her cheeks were white, the lines of her face and figure had fallen; she looked lifeless. Cicely stopped her work of dressing Jack, and gazed at her sister-in-law for a moment or two; then she came and stood before her. "Perhaps you didn't understand what I said on the beach? I told you that I remembered everything, knew everything. And that I forgave you because you had saved baby; you jumped into the lake and saved him." She paused a moment; "I forgive you--yes; but never let us speak of it again--never on this earth;--do you hear?" And, putting her hands on Eve's shoulders, she pressed the palms down violently, as emphasis. Then going back to Jack, she resumed the dressing. "It's the strangest thing in the world about a child. When it comes, you think you don't care about it--little red thing!--that you love your husband a million times more, as of course in many ways you do. But a new feeling comes too, a feeling that's like no other; it takes possession of you whether you want it to or not; it's stronger than anything else--than life or death. You would let yourself be cut to pieces, burned alive, for your _child_. Something came burning right through me when I knew that Jacky was in danger.--Never mind, Jacky, play away; mamma's not frightened now, and Jacky's her own brave boy.--It made everything clear, and I came to myself instantly. I shall never lose my senses again; though I might want to, I'm so miserable." "And I, who think you fortunate!" said Eve. Cicely turned her head and looked at her with parted lips. "Ferdie loved you--" "Oh, he cared for others too," said Cicely, bringing her little teeth together. "I know more than you think;--than Paul thinks." She went on hurriedly with her task. A quiver had passed over Eve at the name. "You loved him, and he was your husband. But Paul can never take _me_ for his wife; you forgive, but he couldn't." "You love Paul, then; is that it?" said Cicely, turning round again. "Now I remember--that day when I saw you in the woods. Why, Eve, he _did_ forgive you, he had you in his arms." "He did not know. He does not know now." "You haven't told him?" "I couldn't." Cicely paused, consideringly. "No, you could not," she said, with conviction. "And he can never marry you." She sat down on the side of the bed and folded her hands. "Not when he knows," Eve answered. "And were you going to deceive him, not let him know?" "That is what I tried to do," said Eve, sombrely. "You were the only person who knew (you knew because I had told you), and you were out of your mind; his love came to me,--I took it." "Especially as you loved him!" "Yes, I loved him." "I'm glad you do," said Cicely; "now you won't be so lofty. _Now_ you understand, perhaps, how I felt about Ferdie, and why I didn't mind, no matter what he did?" "Yes, now I understand."