* * * * * I have left you for ever. All that I told you on Sunday night was true, and you may use that information as you please. Whatever may come to me, at least I know that I am never to live under the same roof with you again, and that is happiness enough for me, whatever other misery there may be in store for me. Now, at last, perhaps, you will realise that loneliness is worse than any other hell, and that's the hell you've made me suffer for twenty years. Look around you and see what your selfishness has done for you. It will be useless to try to persuade me to return to you. I hope to God that I shall never see you again. AMY. * * * * * He turned and said in his ordinary voice, "Your mother has left me." He came across to her, suddenly caught her by the shoulders, and said: "Now, _you'd_ better go, do you hear? They've all left me, your mother, Falk, all of them. They've fallen on me and beaten me. They've kicked me. They've spied on me and mocked me. Well, then, you join them. Do you hear? What do you stay for? Why do you remain with me? Do you hear? Do you hear?" She understood nothing. Her terror caught her like the wind. She crouched back against the bannisters, covering her face with her hand. "Don't hit me, father. Please, please don't hit me." He stood over her, staring down at her. "It's a plot, and you must be in it with the others.... Well, go and tell them they've won. Tell them to come and kick me again. I'm down now. I'm beaten; go and tell them to come in--to come and take my house and my clothes. Your mother's gone--follow her to London, then." He turned. She heard him go into the drawing-room. Suddenly, although she still did not understand what had happened, she knew that she must follow him and care for him. He had pulled the curtains aside and thrown up the windows. "Let them come in! Let them come in! I--I----" Suddenly he turned towards her and held out his arms. "I can't--I can't bear any more." He fell on his knees, burying his face in the shoulder of the chair. Then he cried: "Oh, God, spare me now, spare me! I cannot bear any more. Thou hast chastised me enough. Oh, God, don't take my sanity from me--leave me that. Oh, God, leave me that! Thou hast taken everything else. I have been beaten and betrayed and deserted. I confess my wickedness, my arrogance, my pride, but it was in Thy service. Leave me my mind. Oh, God, spare me, spare me, and forgive her who has sinned so grievously against Thy laws. Oh, God, God, save me from madness, save me from madness." In that moment Joan became a woman. Her love, her own life, she threw everything away. She went over to him, put her arms around his neck, kissed tim, fondled him, pressing her cheek against his. "Dear, dear father. I love you so. I love you so. No one shall hurt you. Father dear, father darling."