In an hour they were in their box at Covent Garden listening to the sensuous music of “Carmen,” and comparing the sauciness of the charming little devil who sang the habanera, with the piquancy of the last _Carmen_ but three, and with the refinement of the one who had made so great a success at Munich. They agreed that the savagery of the newest was very fascinating,--Stephen Linton called it womanly,--but they thought they should like to hear her in the third act before pronouncing a definite opinion regarding her capacity. Then the husband left the box to talk to some people who were seated opposite. “You know everything?” she said. “Everything,” said Herbert. “Can you ever forgive me?” “For running away? Oh, Bertie, you cannot have heard all.” “For forcing you to write me that letter--can you ever forgive me?” “Oh, the letter? Oh, Bertie, we were both wrong--terribly wrong. But we were saved.” “Yes, we were saved. Thank God--thank God!” “That was my first cry, Bertie, when I felt that I was safe--that we both had been saved: Thank God! It seemed as if a miracle had been done to save us.” “So it was--a miracle.” “I spent the night praying that you might be kept away from me, Bertie--away for ever and ever. I felt that I was miserably weak; I felt that I could not trust myself; but now that you are here beside me again I feel strong. Oh, Bertie, we know ourselves better now than we did a week ago--is it only a week ago? It seems months--years--a lifetime!” “Yes, I think that we know each other better now, Ella. That night aboard the yacht all the history of the past six months seemed to come before me. I saw what a wretch I had been, and I was overwhelmed with self-contempt.” “It was all my fault, dear Bertie. I was foolish--vain--a mere woman! Do not say that I did not take pride in what I called, in my secret moments, my conquest. Oh, Bertie! I had sunk into the depths. And then that letter! But we were saved, and I feel that we have been saved forevermore. I feel strong by your side now. And you, I know, feel strong, Bertie?” “I have awakened from my dream, Ella. You called her your good angel too. Surely it was my good angel that sent me to her that evening!” Ella was staring at him. He said that he knew everything. It appeared that she was the one who was not in the fortunate position of knowing all. She stared. “Phyllis Ayrton--you were with her?” “For half an hour. She was unconscious of the effect her words had upon me,--the words of another woman,--leading me back to the side of those who have gone forever. I listened to her, and then it was that I awoke. She did not know. How could she tell that the light of heaven was breaking in upon a soul that was on the brink of hell? She saved me.”