“No, I don't, honey. I just don't want her name brought into our conversation. It doesn't seem decent, somehow. It's like bringing her in here to listen to our quarrels. I'm sorry I hurt you. I'm trying not to, but you're so peculiarly hard to keep peace with lately. What's the reason, darling?” Charity was smitten with a fear more terrible than any yet. She heard its confirmation. Zada whispered: “Can't you guess?” “No, I can't.” “Stupid!” Zada murmured. “You poor, stupid boy.” Charity heard nothing for a long moment--then a gasp. “Zada!” She greeted his alarm with a chuckle and a flurry of proud laughter. He bombarded her with questions: “Why didn't you tell me? How long? What will you do? How could you?--you're no fool.” Her answers were jumbled with his questions--his voice terrified, hers victorious. “I've kept it a secret for months, because I was afraid of you. It's my right. It's too late to do anything now. And now we'll see whether you love me or not--and how much, if any.” There was again silence. Charity could hardly tolerate the suspense. Both she and Zada were hanging breathlessly on Cheever's answer. He did not speak for so long that Zada gave up. “You don't love me, then? I'd better kill myself, I suppose. It's the only solution now. And I'm willing, since you don't love me enough.” “No, no--yes, I do. I adore you--more than ever. But it's such a strange ambition for you; and, God! what a difference it makes, what a difference!” That was what Charity thought. For once she agreed with Cheever, echoed his words and his dismay and stood equally stunned before the new riddle. It was a perfect riddle now, for there was no end to the answers, and every one of them was wrong. CHAPTER XXII Charity let the receiver fall. She had had enough. She sank into a chair and would have slipped to the floor, but her swimming eyes made out the blurred face of Hodshon, terrified at her pallor. If she fainted he would resuscitate her. She could not add that to her other ignominies. She clenched herself like one great fist of resolution till the swoon was frustrated. She sat still for a while--then rose, put on her hat, swathed her face in the veil, and went down the flights of stairs and out into the cool, dark street. She had forgotten that she had dismissed the taxicab. Fortunately another was lurking in the lee of the apartment-house. Hodshon summoned it and would have ridden home with her, but she forbade him. She passed on the way the church of Doctor Mosely and his house adjoining. She was tempted to stop, but she was too weary for more talk. She slept exceedingly well that night, so well that when she woke she regretted that she had not slept on out of the world. She fell asleep again, but was trampled by a nightmare. She woke trying to scream. Her eyes, opening, found her beautiful room about her and the dream dangers vanished.