’I understand,’ said Alison; ’I expected nothing else,’ she added proudly. Yet the pride was for him, not herself. _He_ take that which was smirched and spoiled? Not a fair one, but the fairest of all, must be his, and how could she ever be fairest again—even though Herries should know all—stained to the soul as she felt, after those destroying, those damning hours in the squalid chamber of a libertine? It would be a relief, she thought, to part. Oh, let him go! let him go! He called a chair and handed her into it, punctiliously instructing and paying the chairman. How it stabbed Alison that he should do this now. How often, in the happy dealings of a man with a girlish guest, he had paid such little sums on her behalf. But all that was over and done with. And in the pelting rain, and in the dark, wordless they parted. Alison felt in her pocket for Nancy’s key. At least she had that and her friend should be safe. She had seen it among a lot of untidy litter on a table in her prison, and had had the sense and courage to take it. That must be her reward. * * * * * At midnight, a white figure stood at Nancy’s bedside. It was Alison, with a light in her hand. After a brief and curiously dry account of her adventure on her return home, she had gone to her room, but it was not to sleep. ’Nancy,’ she now said, ’I’m going home!’ Nancy sat up in her bed. ’Home, child?’ she cried. ’What do you mean? Oh—no—no! You’d never leave me in my misery! You are frightened and upset. ’Twas an odious adventure—some trick of that beast Nicol. But to-morrow you’ll be yourself again, Ally—my strength and comfort—my only one!’ ’I got you the key,’ said Alison, doggedly. ’I—I have done what I could. But now I’m going home, and you must not prevent me.’ Nancy burst into tears. ’Oh—Ally!’ she sobbed, ’there’s something between us!’ ’Yes,’ said Alison, dully, ’there’s something between me and all the world from to-day. But I’ll go home and hide myself—and forget. You’ll not rise, Nancy,’ she went on, ’for I’ve been to Jean and she will help me away. The coach goes at five—to-morrow is the day for it, you know, and I could not wait another week. I’ll come in and say good-bye before I go.’ Nancy turned her face to the wall, and sobbed and wept. But Alison’s eyes were dry.