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The answer that came was brief:

"My own Desiree: Come home to Valmonde; back to your mother who loves

you Come with your child"

When the letter reached Desiree she ith it to her husband's study,

and laid it open upon the desk before which he sat She was like a stone

ie: silent, white, motionless after she placed it there

In silence he ran his cold eyes over the written words

He said nothing "Shall I go, Armand?" she asked in tones sharp with

agonized suspense

"Yes, go"

"Do you want hty God had dealt cruelly and unjustly with hi Him back in kind when he stabbed thus

into his wife's soul Moreover he no longer loved her, because of the

unconscious injury she had brought upon his home and his name

She turned away like one stunned by a blow, and walked slowly towards

the door, hoping he would call her back

"Good-by, Armand," she moaned

He did not answer her That was his last blow at fate

Desiree went in search of her child Zandrine was pacing the soallery with it She took the little one from the nurse's ar the steps, walked away, under the