her hands, and wrung them frantically in the air. `Any other woman living would shrink from the disgrace of touching him!' she exclaimed. `Oh, God! I despise myself even more heartily than I despise him!'

The tears were forcing their way into my eyes in spite of me -- the horror of it was to be endured no longer.

`You shall know that you have wronged me, yet,' I said. `Or you shall never see me again!'

With those words, I left her. She started up from the chair on which she had dropped the moment before: she started up -- the noble creature! -- and followed me across the outer room, with a last merciful word at parting.

`Franklin!' she said, `I forgive you! Oh, Franklin, Franklin! we shall never meet again. Say you forgive me!'

I turned, so as to let my face show her that I was past speaking -- I turned, and waved my hand, and saw her dimly, as in a vision, through the tears that had conquered me at last.

The next moment, the worst bitterness of it was over. I was out in the garden again. I saw her, and heard her, no more.