"I have looked at the question from all sides, and I have satisfied my conscience," he said. "Now I must act on my own responsibility." In the last words there sounded anticipatory defiance of Mr. Attlebury--a defiance which indicated that the satisfaction of his conscience was not quite complete. The case rather was that his conscience had come to terms with the other influences, and under their pressure had accepted the way out. "I think I may justly plead that the circumstances are exceptional." He leant forward towards her and asked, "You don't condemn me?" "What's my opinion worth? You know much more about it; you're much more able to form a judgment." "But I want to know that I haven't forfeited your good opinion, your regard, if I may hope that I have ever gained it." "No, I don't condemn you, if your own conscience doesn't, Mr. Maxon." She rose and stood--leaning her elbow on the mantelpiece, her back half turned towards him. The pose displayed well the grace of her tall figure; his eyes rested on her in satisfaction. "Thank you," he said. "That--that means a great deal to me, Lady Rosaline." Her elbow rested on the mantelpiece, her face on her hand; her mouth was hidden. But unseen by him a smile bent her lips. His words were entirely decorous--from a man still married--but they were explicit enough. "I can have him if I want him," probably sums up pretty accurately the lady's comfortable conclusion. CHAPTER XV MRS. NOBODY In spite of the untoward telegram, her visit to Shaylor's Patch heartened up Winnie in two ways. It checked the searching of conscience which is the natural and frequent result of threatened failure; by the evidence it afforded her of Stephen's affection and Dick Dennehy's loyal admiration, it strengthened her woman's confidence in her power to hold her man. After all, Mabel Thurseley was not very pretty; with the sea between Godfrey and Woburn Square, there would be full cause for hope. She dreamed of Italian skies. Though she had recalled and recognized his liberty, under their bargain, to leave her, it was not prominent in her mind. The natural woman was fighting--and fights, it may be supposed, much the same, whatever her status by law or her rights by agreement.