"I cheated you and your father and you have found me out. You know how deep in the mud I've gone and it wouldn't be strange if you thought I might go deeper. I expect you have lost all trust in me. Well, if the shock's too great, you must give me up. I'll drop out, vanish like my uncle, and trouble you no more." Flora laughed, a hoarse, emotional laugh that shook her and brought the blood to her skin. "You thought I would give you up? You have been afraid of this since you saw Peters at the church and you dropped the ring? Oh, but you are very dull! I love you and it was for my sake you did wrong. Well, I am not afraid to share the punishment. If I could save you, I'd bear it all. The thing that hurts is, you doubted if I was brave enough." "I knew your pluck; you gave me proof when you married me. For all that, I knew your hatred of shabbiness and wrong. I'm an unsuccessful criminal." "All the same you are my husband," said Flora quietly. Wyndham looked hard at her and hesitated. "My dear," he said, "I cannot urge this claim. It would hurt less to leave you than try to keep you if you shrank." "Then you doubt me yet?" "No. I'm ashamed and humbled. I don't know what I ought to do, or what I ought to say." "There is not much to be said, but it is difficult. Come here, Harry, and give me your hand. One hates to talk like a moralizing prig and it does no good; but you have gone down hill for me and I want to help you back." Wyndham came to the bench and she took his hand in hers. "I am your wife and will not let you go," she went on. "Still you must give up the money you have earned and put straight the harm you have done. It doesn't matter if this makes us poor. I can go without much you have given me. I'd be glad to go without!" "Ah," he said with strong emotion, "I didn't know you, Flora! Although you hate my offense, you mean to stick to me?" "My dear! I expect the temptation was very strong and at the beginning you did not know all you did. It was rather horrible to help a renegade outcast to plot against civilized rule and try to put in its place superstitious cruelty. But that's done with. We must think how we can make good." "I can't make good at my cost. You and Bob must pay, and I cheated Bob." "Bob will bear you no grudge and I want to help." "Very well," said Wyndham, with forced quietness. "You have given me a chance I don't deserve to get straight again, and I'd be a meaner brute than I am if I let it go." He got up and his face was very resolute. "Now I'll look for Bob."