"You've come down to it, miss, already?" "He has done it," said Mrs. Gereth, turning her eyes avoidingly but not unperceivingly about her and in spite of herself dropping an opinion upon the few objects in the room. Fleda, on her side, in her silence, observed how characteristically she looked at Maggie's possessions before looking at Maggie's sister. The girl understood and at first had nothing to say; she was still dumb while Mrs. Gereth selected, with hesitation, a seat less distasteful than the one that happened to be nearest. On the sofa near the window the poor woman finally showed what the two past days had done for the age of her face. Her eyes at last met Fleda's. "It's the end."!

At this, opening her eyes, Mrs. Gereth sprang straight up. "Get him away from her!" "So it appears."

Mrs. Gereth drank off her second cup. "And you're not afraid now?" "Whatever we hear, I must go." As the cab went on she added: "But I needn't drag you to the station." "Why, of the whole wretched thing."