that followed their ill…omened union； her final abandonment of her
husband； and the efforts of her friends and family who had rescued
the last of her property from him。 She was glad she remembered it；
she dwelt upon it； upon his cruelty； his coarseness and vulgarity；
until she saw； as she honestly believed； the hidden springs of his
affection for their child。 It was HIS child in nature； however it
might have favored her in looks； it was HIS own brutal SELF he was
worshiping in his brutal progeny。 How else could it have ignored
HERits own mother？ She never doubted the truth of what he had
told hershe had seen it in his own triumphant eyes。 And yet she
would have made a kind mother； she remembered with a smile and a
slight rising of color the affection of Barker's baby for her； she
remembered with a deepening of that color the thrill of satisfaction
she had felt in her husband's fulmination against Mrs。 Barker； and；
more than all； she felt in his blind and foolish hatred of Barker
himself a delicious condonation of the strange feeling that had
sprung up in her heart for Barker's simple； straightforward nature。
How could HE understand； how could THEY understand （by the plural
she meant Mrs。 Barker and Horncastle）； a character so innately
noble。 In her strange attraction towards him she had felt a
charming sense of what she believed was a superior and even matronly
protection； in the utter isolation of her life nowand with her
husband's foolish abuse of him ringing in her earsit seemed a
sacred duty。 She had lost a son。 Providence had sent her an ideal
friend to replace him。 And this was quite consistent； too； with a
faint smile that began to play about her mouth as she recalled some
instances of Barker's delightful and irresistible youthfulness。
There was a clatter of hoofs and the sound of many voices from the
street。 Mrs。 Horncastle knew it was the down coach changing
horses； it would be off again in a few moments； and； no doubt；
bearing her husband away with it。 A new feeling of relief came
over her as she at last heard the warning 〃All aboard！〃 and the
great vehicle clattered and rolled into the darkness； trailing its
burning lights across her walls and ceiling。 But now she heard
steps on the staircase； a pause before her room； a whisper of
voices； the opening of the door； the rustle of a skirt； and a
little feminine cry of protest as a man apparently tried to follow
the figure into the room。 〃No； no！ I tell you NO！〃 remonstrated
the woman's voice in a hurried whisper。 〃It won't do。 Everybody
knows me here。 You must not come in now。 You must wait to be
announced by the servant。 Hush！ Go！〃
There was a slight struggle； the sound of a kiss； and the woman
succeeded in finally shutting the door。 Then she walked slowly；
but with a certain familiarity towards the mantel； struck a match
and lit the candle。 The light shone upon the bright eyes and
slightly flushed face of Mrs。 Barker。 But the motionless woman in
the chair had recognized her voice and the voice of her companion
at once。 And then their eyes met。
Mrs。 Barker drew back； but did not utter a cry。 Mrs。 Horncastle；
with eyes even brighter than her companion's； smiled。 The red
deepened in Mrs。 Barker's cheek。
〃This is my room！〃 she said indignantly； with a sweeping gesture
around the walls。
〃I should judge so；〃 said Mrs。 Horncastle； following the gesture；
〃but；〃 she added quietly； 〃they put ME into it。 It appears；
however； they did not expect you。〃
Mrs。 Barker saw her mistake。 〃No； no；〃 she said apologetically；
〃of course not。〃 Then she added； with nervous volubility； sitting
down and tugging at her gloves； 〃You see； I just ran down from
Marysville to take a look at my father's old house on my way to
Hymettus。 I hope I haven't disturbed you。 Perhaps；〃 she said；
with sudden eagerness； 〃you were asleep when I came in！〃
〃No；〃 said Mrs。 Horncastle； 〃I was not sleeping nor dreaming。 I
heard you come in。〃
〃Some of these men are such idiots；〃 said Mrs。 Barker； with a half…
hysterical laugh。 〃They seem to think if a woman accepts the least
courtesy from them they've a right to be familiar。 But I fancy
that fellow was a little astonished when I shut the door in his
face。〃
〃I fancy he WAS；〃 returned Mrs。 Horncastle dryly。 〃But I shouldn't
call Mr。 Van Loo an idiot。 He has the reputation of being a
cautious business man。〃
Mrs。 Barker bit her lip。 Her companion had been recognized。 She
rose with a slight flirt of her skirt。 〃I suppose I must go and
get a room； there was nobody in the office when I came。 Everything
is badly managed here since my father took away the best servants
to Hymettus。〃 She moved with affected carelessness towards the
door； when Mrs。 Horncastle； without rising from her seat； said：
〃Why not stay here？〃
Mrs。 Barker brightened for a moment。 〃Oh；〃 she said； with polite
deprecation； 〃I couldn't think of turning you out。〃
〃I don't intend you shall；〃 said Mrs。 Horncastle。 〃We will stay
here together until you go with me to Hymettus； or until Mr。 Van
Loo leaves the hotel。 He will hardly attempt to come in here again
if I remain。〃
Mrs。 Barker； with a half…laugh； sat down irresolutely。 Mrs。
Horncastle gazed at her curiously； she was evidently a novice in
this sort of thing。 But； strange to say；and I leave the ethics
of this for the sex to settle；the fact did not soften Mrs。
Horncastle's heart； nor in the least qualify her attitude towards
the younger woman。 After an awkward pause Mrs。 Barker rose again。
〃Well； it's very good of you； andand…I'll just run out and wash
my hands and get the dust off me； and come back。〃
〃No； Mrs。 Barker；〃 said Mrs。 Horncastle； rising and approaching
her； 〃you will first wash your hands of this Mr。 Van Loo； and get
some of the dust of the rendezvous off you before you do anything
else。 You CAN do it by simply telling him； SHOULD YOU MEET HIM IN
THE HALL； that I was sitting here when he came in； and heard
EVERYTHING！ Depend upon it； he won't trouble you again。〃
But Mrs。 Barker； though inexperienced in love； was a good fighter。
The best of the sex are。 She dropped into the rocking…chair； and
began rocking backwards and forwards while still tugging at her
gloves； and said； in a gradually warming voice； 〃I certainly shall
not magnify Mr。 Van Loo's silliness to that importance。 And I have
yet to learn what you mean by talking about a rendezvous！ And I
want to know；〃 she continued； suddenly stopping her rocking and
tilting the rockers impertinently behind her； as； with her elbows
squared on the chair arms； she tilted her own face defiantly up
into Mrs。 Horncastle's； 〃how a woman in your positionwho doesn't
live with her husbanddares to talk to ME！〃
There was a lull before the storm。 Mrs。 Horncastle approached
nearer； and； laying her hand on the back of the chair； leaned over
her； and； with a white face and a metallic ring in her voice； said：
〃It is just because I am a woman IN MY POSITION that I do！ It is
because I don't live with my husband that I can tell you what it
will be when you no longer live with yourswhich will be the
inevitable result of what you are now doing。 It is because I WAS
in this position that the very man who is pursuing you； because he
thinks you are discontented with YOUR husband； once thought he
could pursue me because I had left MINE。 You are here with him
alone； without the knowledge of your husband； call it folly；
caprice； vanity； or what you like； it can have but one endto put
you in my place at last； to be considered the fair game afterwards
for any man who may succeed him。 You can test him and the truth of
what I say by telling him now that I heard all。〃
〃Suppose he doesn't care what you have heard；〃 said Mrs。 Barker
sharply。 〃Suppose he says nobody would believe you； if 'telling'
is your game。 Suppose he is a friend of my husband and he thinks
him a much better guardian of my reputation than a woman like you。
Suppose he should be the first one to tell my husband of the foul
slander invented by you！〃
For an instant Mrs。 Horncastle was taken aback by the audacity of
the woman before her。 She knew the simple confidence and boyish
trust of Barker in his wife in spite of their sometimes strained
relations； and she knew how difficult it would be to shake it。 And
she had no idea of betraying Mrs。 Barker's secret to him； though
she had made this scene in his interest。 She had wished to save
Mrs。 Barker from a compromising situation； even if there was a
certain vindictiveness in her exposing her to herself。 Yet she
knew it was quite possible now； if Mrs。 Barker had immediate access
to her husband； that she would convince him of her perfect
innocence。 Nevertheless； she had still great confidence in Van
Loo's fear of scandal and his utter unmanliness。 She knew he was
not in love with Mrs