But, Miss Naida, the world does not often consent to judge us by our own estimation of right and wrong; it prefers to place its own interpretation on acts, and thus often condemns the innocent.

Others might not see this as I do, nor have such unquestioning faith in you." "I know," she admitted, stubbornly, "but I wanted to see him; I have been so lonely for him, and this was the only possible way." Brant felt a wave of uncontrollable sympathy sweep across him, even while he was beginning to hate this man, who, he felt, had stolen a passage into the innocent heart of a girl not half his age, one knowing little of the ways of the world.

He saw again that bare desert, with those two half-dead figures clasped in each other's arms, and felt that he understood the whole miserable story of a girl's trust, a man's perfidy.
"May I walk beside you until you meet him ?" he asked.
"You will not quarrel ?" "No; at least not through any fault of mine." A few steps in the moonlight and she again took his arm, although they scarcely spoke.

At the bridge she withdrew her hand and uttered a peculiar call, and Hampton stepped forth from the concealing bushes, his head bare, his hat in his hand.
"I scarcely thought it could be you," he said, seemingly not altogether satisfied, "as you were accompanied by another." The younger man took a single step forward, his uniform showing in the moonlight.

"Miss Gillis will inform you later why I am here," he said, striving to speak civilly.