and then suddenly i read her purpose.

"mary," i cried, and stood up and laid my hand upon her arm, "tell me what is it you mean to do. what do you mean to do?"

she looked up at me defensively and for a moment neither of us spoke.

"mary," i said, and could not say what was in my thoughts.

"you are wrong," she lied at last....

she stood up too and faced me. i held her shoulder and looked into her eyes.

the gong of my little clock broke the silence.

"i must go, stephen," she said. "i did not see how the time was slipping by."

i began to entreat her and she to deny. "you don't understand," she said, "you don't understand. stephen!—i had hoped you would understand. you see life,—not as i see it. i wanted—all sorts of splendid things and you—begin to argue. you are shocked, you refuse to understand.... no. no. take your hands off me, stephen dear, and let me go. let me go!"

"but," i said, stupid and persistent, "what are you going to do?"

"i've told you. stephen. i've told you. as much as i can tell you. and you think—this foolish thing. as though i could do that! stephen, if i promise, will you let me go?..."