A Lost Leader

on the back of his chair, the

ry day. What have I done to change you so? I am a foolish

his feet, and sto

"I believed that we un

ughed

id. "And as for you-I do not believe that you have ev

was gone. He thr

a promise between us. Don't bre

of her crept into her mind. It was at least consoling to her vanity, and it le

done neither of us any good. It has spoilt a part of my life. Why should I keep sil

rank

ave done al

nd you have moved like a machine along the lines. You talk like a Pharisee, La

mitted, "you

no

you don't approve. My friends are a little fast, I go out alone, I daresay people have said things. T

," he answered, hardly. "You are what

wre

under them as under a lash. He was at a disadvantage now. If she had met him with anger they might h

a compact which I had hoped might have lasted all our days. Let us be better f

"I am afraid to think how many. It makes me lonely,

n to-day, a handsome woman in some lights, but she had reached the limit. It was

all share," he said, quietly

y. "That is the man's resource.

red. "We all make our own choice.

t with us, at any rate. We are what our menk

war

a chance of speaking to you. You shall listen now. You live the life of a poet and a scholar, they tell me. You live in a beautiful home, you take care that nothing ugly or disturbing shall come near you. You are pleased with it, aren't you? You think yourself better than other men. Well, you are making a big mistake. A man doesn't have to answer for his own life only. He has to carry the bur

y. The atmosphere of the room seemed charged with electricity. Mannering's face was grey. Her mother was

brandy and soda, H

irl answered. "Mayn't I make you some R

ghed, a littl

the tea, Hester, but send it up to my room. I'm going to lie down. That wretched motoring has gi

tea-tray and departed. Hester showed no signs of being aware that anything unusual had

put his cup do

ester," he said. "You

se, and came

offer me would be paradise, but I dare not even think of it. I

ex," he said, smiling. "The keynot

" she answered, "for I think that there a

ve to be, dear," he answered, holdi

to the corner of the street, and signalled for a