“To defend myself,” Sibyl answered, pitilessly. “You said crueler things to me down stairs to-night, and yet I had done nothing wrong. I loved Talbot, that was all my sin. I loved him, and when I was saying a last farewell to all my hopes I laid my head upon his breast and wept, that was all!” “Your hopes?” Nina echoed, uncomprehendingly. “Yes, my hopes,” Sibyl answered, watching the lovely shame stricken face before her with keen eyes. “Before Talbot came home to you he told me that he meant to procure a divorce from you that he might marry me!” “Oh, God!” Nina cried, and reeled backward into her chair like one death-smitten. “Do not take it so hard, Nina,” said the smooth, musical voice. “I have more to tell you yet.” “No more for sweet pity’s sake!” cried the agonized girl. “I must for in this lies my whole defense,” Sibyl answered, sadly. “You think very hard of Talbot now, but you will retract your opinion when you hear that when he came home and saw you he repented his promise to me!” A faint gleam of hope flashed into Nina’s eyes. “He repented,” she murmured to herself. “Yes,” Sibyl answered, sobbingly. “He told me that we must say an eternal farewell to our love and our hopes. He had found out that you loved him devotedly, and he was so sure that you would contest a divorce that he was afraid to ask your consent. He said that you were his wife and that we must sacrifice ourselves on the altar of your happiness. We kissed and parted for an eternal farewell! Oh, Nina, Nina,” she fell on her knees with a sudden theatrical semi-tragic air, “You cannot have the heart to be angry with us any longer when you know that we are so unhappy, and that we are parted forever for your sake. Forgive me, dear, for the unconscious wrong I did you in winning Talbot’s heart, and promise me that you will not hate me any longer for the poor reason that he belonged to me before an adverse fate gave him to you!” The passionate torrent of words ceased, and Nina lifted her hand and pointed to the door. “Go, for heaven’s sake,” she said. “I cannot bear your presence any longer.” Sibyl rose, sullenly. “Nina, you must have a heart of stone,” she cried, upbraidingly. “After the way I have humbled myself to you, you have not one single word of sympathy for the grief that you alone have caused me! You are not one bit sorry for poor Talbot and me!” “I am sorry for you both--sorrier still for myself,” said Nina, drearily. “But what are you waiting for, Mrs. St. Alban? Do you want me to promise you that Talbot shall have a divorce?” “Ah, you will not do it. _He_ said so,” Sibyl answered, hopelessly. “He said you were so desperately fond of him you would not give him up. Don’t think I blame you, Nina. I know how you feel by my own experience.”