Besides, and there was much in the fact, I wanted to get away, to get back among those who trusted me, and to whom I felt I belonged. If the thread of flame had led me to my old life it was only to show me once for all that there was no place for me in it. Knowing that, I could take hold of the new life more whole-heartedly and probably do better work there. Already new plans were springing to my mind, plans which I could the more easily put into operation because of having some money at my disposal. Mildred Averill would help me in that and perhaps I could help her. If Vio secured a divorce, and I should put no obstruction in the way of that— But Vio herself came into my room with the calm manner and easy movement which in no wise surprised me, as she was subject to such reactions after moments of excitement. "What are you doing, Billy?" She seated herself quietly. A coat being spread before me on the bed, I folded the sleeves, and doubled the breasts backward. "I’m packing." "What for?" "Because I’m going away." "When?" "To-night; in an hour or so." "Where to?" "New York first." "And then?" "I don’t know yet. Possibly nowhere. I may stay in New York. Probably I shall." "And not come back here any more?" "That’s my intention." "What are you doing it for?" Taking the coat I had folded I laid it in my suit-case. "I should think you’d see." "Is it—is it because of—of what was said this afternoon?" "Partly." "Not altogether?" Pulling another coat from the closet I spread it on the bed. "No; not altogether." "What else is there?" "Oh, nothing that you’d be interested in. I—I just want to get away." "From me?" "Only in the sense that—that you’re part of the whole." "The whole what?" "The whole life. It’s not a life for me any more." She did not deny this or protest against it. For a minute or more she said nothing, though as I crossed the room from the bed to the closet for more clothes I saw in the glass that she furtively dashed away a tear. Yesterday I would have been touched by that; but now that I knew what she believed of me, what she had been believing of me during all the weeks since I had come home, my heart was benumbed. Besides, if she was in love with Dick Stroud there was no reason for my feeling pity. I had begun on collars and neckties when she said: "What kind of a girl was that who was here this afternoon?" [Illustration: I had begun on collars and neckties when Vio said, "What kind of a girl was that who was here this afternoon?"] "You must have seen something of her for yourself. I understood from her that she’d been coming to see you." "She’s been here three times. Alice Mountney sent her, and I believe Lulu Averill sent her to her. I had no idea that she had anything in her mind than just to sell this new kind of corset." "And had she?" "Didn’t she tell you?" "She didn’t tell me. If she’s said anything to you, I don’t know what it can be."