'Very well.' Of her own accord this time she stopped on her way to that other door, behind which was the Past and the Future incarnate in one woman. 'I'll wait,' said Jean. She went to the table. Sitting there with her face turned from him, she said, quite low, 'You'll come back, if you're the man I pray you are.' Her self-control seemed all at once to fail. She leaned her elbows on the table and broke into a flood of silent tears, with face hidden in her hands. He came swiftly back, and bent over her a moved, adoring face. 'Dearest of all the world,' he began, in that beautiful voice of his. His arms were closing round her, when the door on the left was softly opened. Vida Levering stood on the threshold. CHAPTER XVIII She drew back as soon as she saw him, but Stonor had looked round. His face darkened as he stood there an instant, silently challenging her. Not a word spoken by either of them, no sound but the faint, muffled sobbing of the girl, who sat with hidden face. With a look of speechless anger, the man went out and shut the doors behind him. Not seeing, only hearing that he had gone, Jean threw her arms out across the table in an abandonment of grief. The other woman laid on a chair the hat and cloak that she was carrying. Then she went slowly across the room and stood silent a moment at Jean's side. 'What is the matter?' The girl started. Impossible for her to speak in that first moment. But when she had dried her eyes, she said, with a pathetic childish air-- 'I--I've been seeing Geoffrey.' 'Is this the effect "seeing Geoffrey" has?' said the other, with an attempt at lightness. 'You see, I know now,' Jean explained, with the brave directness that was characteristic. The more sophisticated woman presented an aspect totally unenlightened. 'I know how he'--Jean dropped her eyes--'how he spoiled some one else's life.' 'Who tells you that?' asked Miss Levering. 'Several people have told me.' 'Well, you should be very careful how you believe what you hear.' 'You know it's true!' said the girl, passionately. 'I know that it's possible to be mistaken.' 'I see! You're trying to shield him----' 'Why should I? What is it to me?' 'Oh-h, how you must love him!' she said with tears. 'I? Listen to me,' said Vida, gravely. As she drew up a chair the girl rose to her feet. 'What's the use--what's the use of your going on denying it?' As she saw Vida was about to break in, she silenced her with two words, '_Geoffrey doesn't._' And with that she fled away to the window. Vida half rose, and then relinquished the idea of following the girl, seemed presently to forget her, and sat as one alone with sorrow. When Jean had mastered herself, she came slowly back. Not till she was close to the motionless figure did the girl lift her eyes. 'Oh, don't look like that,' the girl prayed. 'I shall bring him back to you.'