CHAPTER XIV The cawing of the rooks grew fainter. One by one they folded their wings.!

Joan murmured her sense of favour, but hoped she would not be allowed to interfere with more pressing calls upon Mr. Phillips’s time. A fear was creeping over her. “Why have you come back?” she asked.

“Ever spent a day at the Home for Destitute Gentlewomen at East Sheen?” demanded Madge. What would life leave to her? A lonely lodging and a pot of ink that she would come to hate the smell of. She could never marry. It would be but her body that she could give to any other man. Not even for the sake of her dreams could she bring herself to that. It might have been possible before, but not now. She could have won the victory over herself, but for hope, that had kindled the smouldering embers of her passion into flame. What cunning devil had flung open this door, showing her all her heart’s desire, merely that she should be called upon to slam it to in her own face? She hurried onward with bent head, trying to escape them. She felt so small, so helpless. Almost she cried out in her despair.