Contrary to custom, I slept that night with closed windows! And although I awakened twice, once at two o'clock and again at four, thinking that I had heard the mournful signal of the dogs, nothing but my own uneasy imagination disturbed my slumbers. Breakfast despatched, and my correspondence dealt with, I sent Coates to the garage for my little car, and since I should have another companion, left him behind, and myself drove to Isobel's flat. Woman-like, she was not nearly ready, and there was much bustling on the part of the repentant Marie--who had been retained in spite of her share in the tragedy of Sir Marcus's death--before we finally set out for Mrs. Wentworth's. Isobel was very silent on the way, but once I intercepted a sidelong glance and felt my heart leaping madly when she blushed. Mrs. Wentworth made me very welcome as had ever been her way. She was an eccentric, but embarrassingly straightforward old lady; and if I had heeded her simple motherly counsel in the past all might have been different. She bore Isobel off to her room, leaving me to my own devices, for she had never observed any ceremony towards me in all the years that I had known her, but had taught me to make myself at home beneath her hospitable roof. I knew, too, because she had never troubled to disguise the fact, that she regarded Isobel and me as made for one another. Isobel's engagement to poor Eric Coverly, Mrs. Wentworth had all along regarded as a ghastly farce, and I can never forget her reception of me on the occasion of my first visit after returning from Mesopotamia. Half an hour or so elapsed, then, before Isobel returned; and, although she came into the room confidently enough, the old tension reasserted itself immediately. I felt that commonplaces would choke me. And although to this day I cannot condone my behavior, for the good of my soul I must confess the truth. I took her in my arms, held her fast and kissed her. An overwhelming consciousness of guilt came to me even as her lips met mine, and, releasing her, I turned aside, groaning. "Isobel!" I said hoarsely--"Isobel, forgive me! I was a cad, a villain ... to _him_. But--it was inevitable. Try to forget that I was so weak. But, Isobel--" I felt her hand trembling on my arm. "We must _both_ try to forget, Jack," she whispered. I grasped her hands and looked eagerly--indeed I think wildly--into her eyes. "Because my life is over if I lose you," I said, "I suppose I was mad for a moment. Tell me that one day--when it is fit and proper that you should do so--you will give me a hearing, and I will perform any penance you choose. I acted like a blackguard." "Stop!" she commanded softly. She raised her eyes, and her grave, sweet glance cooled the fever which consumed me and brought a great and abiding peace to my heart.