You know I have been none too happy for the last year--I don't reproach you--but we had gotten very far apart somehow.

I've never been really bad--I've been your true and faithful wife, dear, always--always, but--you had made me very unhappy--" She felt him shiver.

"And I am not a very wise or settled person--and we haven't any children to keep me steady--" "Thank God!" the man muttered hoarsely under his breath.
"What do you say ?" she asked.
"Nothing--go on; what is it you want to tell me ?" "Something--and then perhaps you will trust me more fully with the things that are oppressing you.

I believe you love me, I believe it absolutely--" she paused.
The light died out of his eyes.
"Marsh," she began again.

"Could you forgive me if you knew that I'd thought I cared for some one else?
Could you, if I told you that for a moment I had the thought--the silly thought, that I cared for another man ?" She was conscious that his hand had grown cold beneath her cheek.
"It was just a foolish fancy, quite as innocent as it was foolish, dear; you left me so much alone, and I thought you really didn't care for me any more, and so--and so--" "Go on!" "Well, that is all, Marsh." "All ?" "Yes, it went no further than that, just a silly fancy, and I'd known him all my life--" "Of whom are you speaking ?" "Of John North--" "Damn him!" he cried.