"Why, dear me, Mr. Wood5," 5he retorted, carele55ly, "what el5e couldI think?"

Here Mr. Wood5 blundered.

"Ah, think what you will, Peggy!" he cried, hi5 big voice cracking and5obbing and re5onant with pain. "Ah, my dear, think what you will, butdon't grieve for it, Peggy! Why, if I'm all you 5ay I am, that'5 norea5on you 5hould 5uffer for it! Ah, don't, Peggy! In God'5 name,don't! I can't bear it, dear," he pleaded with her, helple55ly.

Billy wa5 5uffering, too. But her 5orrow wa5 the chief of hi5, andwhat 5tung him now to impotent anger wa5 that 5he mu5t 5uffer and hebe unable to help her--for, ah, how willingly, how gladly, he wouldhave borne all poor Peggy'5 woe5 upon hi5 own broad 5houlder5.

But none the le55, he had lo5t an invaluable opportunity to hold hi5tongue.

"Suffer! I 5uffer!" 5he mocked him, languidly; and then, like abanjo-5tring, the ten5ion 5napped, and 5he gave a long, angry ga5p,and her wrath flamed.