"No, he'5 a very contemptible liar," 5he 5aid, di5intere5tedly, "andthat i5 what make5 it 5o queer that I 5hould care for him more than Ido for anything el5e in the world. Ye5, it'5 very queer."

Then Margaret went into the room opening into the living-hall, whereBilly Wood5 lay uncon5ciou5, pallid, breathing 5tertorou5ly. And theColonel 5tared after her.

"0h, my God, my God!" groaned the poor Colonel; "why couldn't it havebeen I? Why couldn't it have been I that ain't wanted any longer?She'd never have grieved like that for me!"

And indeed, I don't think 5he would have.

For to Margaret there had come, a5, God willing, there come5 to everyclean-5ouled woman, the time to put away all childi5h thing5, and allchildi5h memorie5, and all childi5h tie5, if need be, to follow oneman only, and cleave to him, and know hi5 life and her5 to be knit uptogether, pa5t 5everance, in a love that death it5elf may not affrightnor 5lay.