"All that time he--my husband--had been coming to see me every day. The doctor insisted that I should go out to be braced by the fresh air, so he took me long drives, long walks, and then sat by me indoors, comforting me, helping, advising. He was everything to me, Evelyn! Aunt Mary was dying, and she had been like a mother, but when he was with me I was satisfied; I was content. When she died, he urged an immediate marriage, and I was quite ready. She had left no money to me, but I told him I had some of my own. He kissed me, and"--again her hand went up to hide that quivering lip--"he said that did not concern him. He could keep his wife. What money I had I must keep for myself, to pay for `little extravagancies'. "I was thankful that he did not know, thankful that he did not care. I looked forward to telling him after we were married, and seeing his face of surprise. We had planned to live in an apartment until we had time to choose a house for ourselves. I laughed to think how much bigger and finer it would be than the little house of his dreams. He was not at all rich--did I tell you that? He had had a pretty hard struggle all his life, and had only quite a moderate income. I went to my lawyer and settled a fourth of my income on him for life. I knew if we lived in a bigger way there would be calls upon him which he would not otherwise have had. Calls for subscriptions, for charities, a dozen other claims. I hated to think that he should have to come to me for money, or that cheques should be drawn in my name. He asked me what I was going to give him as a wedding present, and I laughed, and said, `Nothing interesting. Only a little note!' The settlement was to be my gift." Silence again. I felt for her hand and held it tight? Tragedy was coming; I knew it. I waited, tense with suspense. "We were married very quietly. Only two or three people in the church. He called for me. It was unconventional, but I was nervous and weak, and he knew he could give me strength. We went up the aisle together, hand in hand. The man who was to give me away followed behind. Many people in America are married in their own homes, but I preferred a church. I've been sorry since. It has seemed a profanation. To stand before the altar in God's house and take those solemn vows, while all the time--all the time--" She shuddered, and paused to regain self-possession. "Well, Evelyn--well! I had two weeks' happiness, two weeks in my fool's paradise, and then--the end came! He had gone over to New York for a day. Some important business had arisen and he was obliged to go. He said good-bye." She paused again, struggling for composure. "It _was_ good-bye--good-bye for ever. He did not know that, but he parted from me as--a husband might from the wife of his heart. It was impossible to doubt. I was as sure of him, Evelyn--as sure as that the sun is in the sky!