He had often wondered how long it would be in coming to her, and how she would stand up under the strain of the half score of years or more that conceivably might be left to the man she had married.

There had been times when he laughed in secret anticipation of the probabilities that attended her unwholesome adventure.

Years of it! Years of bondage before she could lay hands upon the hard-earned fruits of freedom! As he entered the hall Anne came out of the library to greet him.

There was no hesitation on her part, no pretending.

She came directly to him, her hand extended.