Part 52 (1/2)

”Peter Noyes has gone,” he began.

”Yes,” she nodded. ”You heard about his eyes?”

”He wrote me.”

She looked up swiftly.

”Peter wrote you?” she trembled.

”He told me he had recovered his sight. He told me he was going.”

What else had he told? Dizzily she waited. For the first time in her life, she felt as if she might faint. That would be such a silly thing to do!

”He said he was going home--out of your life.”

Peter had told Monte that! What else had he told?

He paused a moment, as if expecting her to make some reply. There, was nothing she could say.

”It was n't what I expected,” he went on.

What else had Peter told him?

”Was n't there any other way?” he asked.

”I did n't send him home. He--he chose to go,” she said.

”Because it was n't any use for him to remain?”

”I told him the truth,” she nodded.

”And he took it like a man!” exclaimed Monte enthusiastically. ”I 'd like to show you his letter, only I don't know that it would be quite fair to him.”

”I don't want to see it,” she cut in. ”I--I know I should n't.”

What else besides his going had Peter told Monte?

”It was his letter that brought me back,” he said.

She held her breath. She had warned Peter that if he as much as hinted at anything that she had confessed to him, she would lie to Monte. So she should--but G.o.d forbid that this added humiliation be brought upon her.

”You see, when I went I expected that he would be left to care for you.

With him and his sister here, I knew you would n't be alone. I thought they'd stay, or if they went--you'd go with them.”

”But why should n't I be alone?” she gathered strength to ask.

”Because,” he answered quickly, ”it is n't good for you. It is n't good for any one. Besides, it is n't right. When we were married I made certain promises, and those hold good until we're unmarried.”

”Monte!” she cried.