“Oh, what truth? That’s the terrifying thing--to know that people are keeping things from me! What _was_ it they were keeping?” “First of all, the fact that the baby was blind; and then the cause of it----” “Then they _do_ know the cause?” “They don’t know positively--no one can know positively. But poor Dr. Perrin had a dreadful idea, that he had to hide from you because otherwise he could not bear to continue in your house----” “Why, Douglas! What do you mean?” “I mean that a few days before your confinement, he was called away to the case of a negro-woman--you knew that, did you not?” “Go on.” “He had the torturing suspicion that possibly he was not careful enough in sterilizing his instruments, and that he, your friend and protector, may be the man who is to blame.” “Oh! Oh!” Her voice was a whisper of horror. “That is one of the secrets your doctors have been trying to hide.” There was silence, while her eyes searched his face. Suddenly she stretched out her hands to him, crying desperately: “Oh, is this true?” He did not take the outstretched hands. “Since I am upon the witness-stand, I have to be careful of my replies. It is what Dr. Perrin tells me. Whether the explanation he gives is the true one--whether he himself, or the nurse he recommended, may have brought the infection----” “It couldn’t have been the nurse,” she said quickly. “She was so careful----” He did not allow her to finish. “You seem determined,” he said, coldly, “to spare everyone but your husband.” “No!” she protested, “I have tried hard to be fair--to be fair to both you and my friend. Of course, if Mary Abbott was mistaken, I have done you a great injustice--” He saw that she was softening, and that it was safe for him to be a man. “It has been with some difficulty that I have controlled myself throughout this experience,” he said, rising to his feet. “If you do not mind, I think I will not carry the discussion any further, as I don’t feel that I can trust myself to listen to a defence of that woman from your lips. I will only tell you my decision in the matter. I have never before used my authority as a husband; I hoped I should never have to use it. But the time has come when you will have to choose between Mary Abbott and your husband. I will positively not tolerate your corresponding with her, or having anything further to do with her. I take my stand upon that, and nothing will move me. I will not even permit of any discussion of the subject. And now I hope you will excuse me. Dr. Perrin wishes me to tell you that either he or Dr. Gibson are ready at any time to advise you about these matters, which have been forced upon your mind against their judgment and protests.”