"I found by chance, the merest chance, where she was," he continued. "I went at once. She was alone, for Bethune has gone back to his wife. I suppose you knew he had gone back. I did not. I found her----" He stopped as if the remembrance were too acute, and then went on firmly. "We had a long talk. She was in great trouble. She told me everything, and how he, that devil, had made love to her from the first day she came back from school, and how her father knew of it, and had obliged her to accept me. And she said she knew it was wrong to run away with him, but she thought it was more wrong to marry without love, and that the nearer the day came the more she felt she must escape, and she seemed hemmed in on every side, and she did love Bethune, and he had sworn to her that he would marry her directly he got his divorce, and that his wife did not care for him, and would be glad to be free, and that all that was necessary was a little courage on her part. So she tried to be brave--and--she said she did not think at the time it could be so very wicked to marry the person she really loved, for _you_ knew, and you never said a word to stop her. She said you had many opportunities of speaking to her on the boat, and she knew you were so good, you would certainly have told her if it was really so very wicked." "I knew it was no use speaking," said Mary, hoarsely. "You might have tried to save my wife for my sake," said Jos. "You might have tried to save her for her own. But you didn't. I don't care to know your reasons. I only know that--you did not do it. You deliberately--let--her--drown." His eyes flashed. The whole quiet, commonplace man seemed transfigured by some overmastering, ennobling emotion. "And I have come to tell you that I think the bad women are better than the good ones, and that I am going back to Elsa; to Elsa--betrayed, deserted, outcast, my Elsa, who, but for you, might still be like one of these." He touched one of the white anemones with his scarred hand. "I am going back to her--and if--in time she can forget the past and feel kindly towards me--I will marry her." And he did. THE END * * * * * Mr MURRAY'S SIX SHILLING NOVELS =TALES OF A FAR RIDING.= By OLIVER ONIONS, Author of "The Compleat Bachelor." =LESLIE FARQUHAR.= By ROSALINE MASSON, Author of "In Our Town." =DANNY.= By ALFRED OLLIVANT, Author of "Owd Bob." =THE VALLEY OF DECISION.= By EDITH WHARTON, Author of "A Gift from the Grave," "Crucial Instances," etc. =HIGH TREASON.= A Tale of the Days of George II. =THE SHADOWY THIRD.= By HORACE ANNESLEY VACHELL, Author of "John Charity," etc. =THE TRIAL OF MAN.= An Allegorical Romance. =A MODERN ANTAEUS.= By the Writer of "An Englishwoman's Love-Letters." =THE CAVALIER.= A Tale of Life and Adventures among the Confederates during the Civil War in the United States. By G. W. CABLE.