She never could imagine how any one had found it out; the only one who could know anything was Miss Cordsen: but still less could she now understand how she had allowed herself to be talked over, and compelled to agree to what had since been arranged.

There must be truth in what people said, that it was impossible to resist the young Consul, and so she allowed herself to be betrothed to Christian Kusk, one of the worst men she knew, who shortly after went to America; then the child was born, and was christened Christian.

Then again she recalled that night when the child died; but all further impressions became indistinct and hazy as mist.

She had hoped that her shame might kill her, but it had only tortured her.

To Sandsgaard, where she had vowed never again to set her foot, she now went daily.