This summary of the effect of attempted literary and social suicide was put clearly before them in a long letter from Rowington a month or so afterwards. “But we want another novel from Alexis Triona. When are we going to get it?” They had stayed on indefinitely at Pendish, ostensibly awaiting Myra’s complete convalescence, and incidentally, as they told themselves, having their second honeymoon. At first she took it for granted that he would resign his post at the Quantock Garage. “I’m not going to begin life again by breaking my word,” said he. “I promised to see him over his honeymoon.” “That’s a bit mad and Quixotic,” said Olivia. “So’s all that’s worth having in life, my dear,” said he. So she had settled down for the time with her chauffeur husband, and meanwhile had been feeding him into health. They read the letter together. “It’s no use,” wrote Rowington, “to start again under the Briggs name. You’ve told the world that Triona is a pseudonym. Alexis Triona means something. John Briggs doesn’t.” “He’s quite right,” said Olivia. “As you will,” he said. “I give in. But you can’t say I’ve not done my very best to kill Alexis Triona.” “And you can’t. Fate again. And—Alexis dear—I never knew John Briggs.” They were in the sea-haunted parlour. After a while he took up the pink conch-shell and fingered it lovingly. Then, with a laugh, he put it to her ear. “What does it say?” She listened a while, handed him back the shell and looking up at him out of her dark eyes, laughed the laugh of deep happiness. “I’ll go with you, dear—to any South Sea Island you like.” “Will you?” he cried. “We’ll go. And I’ll write a novel full of the beauty of God’s Universe and you.” Myra came in to lay the luncheon table. Olivia leaped up and threw her arms around the thin shoulders. “Myra dear, you’ll have to pack up quick. We’re going to Honolulu to-morrow.” “You must make it the day after,” said Myra. “The laundry doesn’t come till to-morrow night.” THE END TRANSCRIBER NOTES Misspelled words and printer errors have been corrected. Inserted word marked with square bracket around insertion. Where multiple spellings occur, majority use has been employed. Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious printer errors occur. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tale of Triona, by William J. Locke