"Perhaps he wasn't, perhaps he was, but thousands of women have lost faith in their men and clung to them for all that, and they're the salt of the earth, I say. I'm only an old maid myself, but to stand up for your husband, right or wrong, that's what _I_ call being a wife, if you ask me." Fenella could bear up no longer. She flung her arms about Janet's neck and buried her face in her breast. The darkness was gathering before they broke from their embrace and then it was time for Janet to smooth out her silvery hair and go. Fenella saw her to the carriage and whispered as she kissed her, "Tell him to come back to me." And then Janet went home with shining eyes. III Day after day Fenella waited at home for Victor, denying herself to everybody else. Every afternoon she dressed herself in some gown he had said he liked her in. She dressed her hair, too, in the way he liked best. But still he did not come. At length she determined to write to him. Writing was a terrible ordeal. Her pride fought with her love and she could never satisfy herself with her letters. First it was-- "DEAR VICTOR,--Don't you really think you've stayed away long enough? Remember your 'Manx ones'--especially your lovely and beloved Manx women--won't they be talking?" But no, that was too much like threatening him, so she began again-- "DARLING,--Did you really think I meant all I said that day? Don't you know a woman better than that? I suppose you think I am very hard-hearted and can never forgive, but...." No, that was wrong, too. "VICTOR,--Don't you think I have been punished enough? It has been very hard for me, yet I love you still...." But the trembling of her handwriting betrayed the emotion she wished to conceal. At last, after a long day of solitude and abandonment, two little lines-- "Vic,--I am so lonely. Come to me. Your broken-hearted--FENELLA." But all her letters, with their cries and supplications, were torn up and thrown into the fire. Why did he stay away? Did he expect her to bridge all the gulf between them? At length she thought he must be ill. The idea that he could be suffering (for her sake perhaps) swept down all her pride, and she determined to go to him. But just as she was setting out for Ballamoar somebody brought word that Stowell was staying at Fort Anne. That quenched her humility. So near, yet never coming to see her! Oh, very well! Very well! For two days she felt crushed and abased. Then she heard that Stowell was constantly to be seen at the Law Library, and that brought a memory and an explanation. She remembered that she had said (in that wild moment when she didn't know what she was saying) that she would never forgive him while the girl Bessie lay in prison.