Barnard started to follow her, then thinking better of it, returned to his seat on the sofa and gazed blankly about the room. It seemed strangely empty without Marjorie, and cursing his lack of self-control and temper which had frightened her away, he picked up a letter lying on the table which had escaped his earlier notice. It proved to be a curt note from Alvord and Alvord informing him that Rear Admiral Lawrence had brought suit to break his wife’s will. For a long time Barnard sat inarticulate with rage; two stumbling blocks were in his way to winning Marjorie for his wife; one, of his own making, and the other, a law contest. With settled determination to win both he picked up the evening paper and began to read it. Once in the street Marjorie set out in the direction of Washington but she was so unutterably exhausted by all that she had gone through, that her footsteps lagged and her progress was slow. She was not very familiar with Georgetown, but had a general idea of the direction she should take, and keeping an outlook for a passing cab, she staggered rather than walked along, her heart filled with bitter and hopeless anguish. She had kept the faith and had been loyal to her benefactress, but when the guilt of others had been fastened upon her shoulders not one friend had believed in her innocence. She had still to face Madame Yvonett. She shivered involuntarily, paused, walked on, paused again, then turned and staggered off in the direction of the Potomac River. CHAPTER XXIII THE HEARING EAR JANET, coming swiftly along the hall toward her mother’s bedroom, met a white-capped nurse advancing toward her. “How is mother?” she demanded. “Resting more easily now, Miss Fordyce; the medicine gave her almost immediate relief.” “Thank heaven!” Janet moved forward a few steps intending to enter her mother’s bedroom, but the nurse detained her. “I beg your pardon; your brother and Dr. Potter are with Mrs. Fordyce just now. Seeing so many together might overexcite her. Could you not come in a little later?” “I suppose so,” but Janet looked troubled. “You are sure she is better, nurse?” “Yes, indeed,” with a reassuring smile. “Then please ask my brother and Dr. Potter to stop in the Chinese room when they leave mother. I would like to talk to them privately before our guests arrive for dinner.” “I will tell them,” promised the nurse, and turned to go. “Just a moment,” Janet gazed perplexedly at the pretty woman standing just under the hall light. “Haven’t I seen you before?” “I don’t think so, Miss Fordyce,” Kathryn Allen’s smile was most engaging. “I am sure I should not have forgotten.” And the subtle admiration of Janet’s good looks and pretty gown conveyed by her intonation, caused the young girl to flush warmly. “Do not distress yourself on your mother’s account; Dr. Potter and Dr. McLane both declare her attack comes from overexertion. Rest and absolute quiet are all that she needs to effect a complete recovery.”