For another moment Jack remained silent, her face flooding first with color and then the color receding until she was curiously pale, so that the darkness of her lashes showed shadows on her white cheeks. "I am sorry, Frank," she answered quietly, "but in this matter I can not accept your decision. I am a woman--not a child--and this is a matter for my conscience as well as yours. Even if I am wrong, whatever consequences I must suffer from your failing ever to see this as I do, I must go to Bryan if he is still alive." Then Jack went quickly into her own room again. CHAPTER XI A SURPRISE DURING the night Frank decided that he would not argue with Jack again the question which was troubling them both, since it was too painful for discussion. However, he did not sleep much, although not once did his conviction that he was doing the right thing waver. Frank had the belief in his own judgment which comes to certain people with authority. Also, he disliked to suggest to his wife any of the little, ugly, suspicious things of life, which he knew her fine, clean nature would not consider. But all the more for this reason did he believe that he should protect her, even against herself. Therefore, at breakfast the next morning, Frank made no reference to Jack's final defiance the night before. Not for an instant did he think that she had meant anything, except to have him appreciate how utterly her point of view and her inclination differed from his. This he accepted, realizing that he really could not, under the circumstances, expect anything else. But that Jack would ignore his wish--even his expressed command--was beyond his comprehension. She had always been perfectly reasonable and amenable, and there was nothing to serve him as a warning. "I'll let you know as soon as I hear from the war office," Frank remarked, as he left for London. Jack simply nodded quietly in response without replying. As a matter of fact she, too, had made up her mind in the night not to reopen the subject upon which she and Frank were so completely at variance. Perhaps Jack was wrong in this and in the whole proceeding which followed. Except to say that she had the right to use her own judgment--she never attempted to justify herself. As soon as she had arranged her household matters and had seen her children, she went into her private sitting room and, by using her telephone for an hour or more, secured the information which she desired. She was able to locate Captain MacDonnell and also to learn that he was still alive. Moreover, Frank telegraphed this same fact while she was still at the telephone. Then Jack sent word for Olive and Frieda to come to her bedroom, and when they arrived she carefully closed the door. They found her packing a small bag.