Mrs Lawless was like a sick woman whose illness increased as the day advanced. She had recognised the finality of things on the night when Lawless walked out of her presence--out of her house, to return to the woman with whose lot he had thrown in his own. It was another of the mad, reckless acts that had governed his undisciplined nature. But to-day, with her mind disturbed with thoughts of death and deeds of violence, the memory of how she had let him go without exerting every effort to persuade him to reconsider his decision troubled her greatly. Why had she not humbled her pride and pleaded with him? ... Why had she let the thought that it would be derogatory to her dignity deter her from freely avowing her love for him? ... Might not the strength of her love have stood between him and this evil? ... She felt as though hers had been the hand to thrust him forth into the darkness for the second time. Once before, in the years that were gone, she had thrust him forth; and in the empty years that had succeeded she had learnt bitterly to regret the hard unforgivingness of that act. Her one cry then had been: "I didn't understand... Oh! if only I could have the chance again." The opportunity had been given her, and she had failed to recognise it. "He was so cold," she excused herself. "I was afraid of him." And then: "I could not have prevented him from doing what he had made up his mind to do... My power over him is dead..." In that knowledge lay the bitterness of the sting... In the afternoon, according to her promise, Julie Weeber arrived. She was somewhat diffident of intruding, uncertain how Mrs Lawless felt the news of Van Bleit's arrest. Julie shared the popular belief that it would be a grievous shock to the woman whose name had been bandied about in connection with his for months. To make sure, she inquired of the native who opened the door to her whether Mrs Lawless were receiving. "I would come another day, if it were more convenient," she said. "Missis is expecting you," he answered, and showed her into the drawing-room. Zoe Lawless was seated in a low chair near one of the windows, with her hands lying idly in her lap. She was very pale. Julie decided that she looked ill, and imagined that she understood the reason of her pallor. "I came," she explained, "because I said I would. But if you'd rather have me some other day, I'll go away again." "I'd rather that you stayed," Mrs Lawless answered, rising and shaking hands. "You see, I'm lonely. Why should you condemn me to my own society to-day?" "I thought perhaps--" Julie stammered and came upon an awkward pause, whereupon Mrs Lawless went quickly to her assistance.