Her eyes flashed.
"No," she answered bitterly; "no one ever accused me of such folly. I have no heart, and am for sale to the highest bidder."
"I beg your pardon, Ethel," he said humbly, "I was only thinking of the long ago, and forgot what I was then."
"You need not," she replied, turning away. "I only am to blame, but—it hurt—from you."
Then, covering her eyes with one hand, she added slowly, as if the words came hard: "It's all past and gone, Winn, but—but I did not know myself then, and now it's too late. God help me!"
At the door she laid a detaining hand on his arm.
"I wish you well," she said, with a quiver in her voice; "I wish you all that's best and holiest in life. Go to your island girl, and at once. She is worthy of you, and you of her. We have been good friends, and I hope always will be. Love is only an illusion, but friendship endless. And now, good-by, and God bless you!"
And Winn, going out into the night, knew that the proud girl was reaping the pain she had sown.