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Anthony shook his head "It would take no end of generosity, no end of

gentleness to forgive such a dead set For my part I would have liked

better to have been killed and done with at once It could not have been

worse for you--and I suppose it was of you that he was thinkinghiht of youit all back to him

All these years, all these years--and you his child left alone in the

world I would have gone crazy For even if he had done wrong--"

"But he hasn't," insisted Flora de Barral with a quite unexpected

fierceness "You mustn't even suppose it Haven't you read the accounts

of the trial?"

"I a," Anthony defended hi of the trial He assured her that he ay froe of the Ferndale He was crossing the

Pacific from Australia at the time and didn't see any papers for weeks

and weeks He interrupted hiest:

"You had better tell him at once that you are happy"

He had stammered a little, and Flora de Barral uttered a deliberate and

concise "Yes"

A short silence ensued She withdrew her hand from his arm They

stopped Anthony looked as if a totally unexpected catastrophe had