"Philippa!" he repeated.
"Yes," said the duchess, calmly. "And do you know why I am here?"
"I cannot even guess," he replied.
"I am here to implore your pardon," she announced, with deep humility--"to tell you that neither by night nor by day, since I planned and carried out my revenge, have I known peace. I shall neither live nor die in peace unless you forgive me, Norman."
She bent her beautiful, haughty head before him--her eyes were full of tears.
"You will forgive me, Norman?" she said in her low, rich voice. "Remember that it was love for you which bereft me of my reason and drove me mad--love for you. You should pardon me."
Leaving her standing there, Lord Arleigh drew aside the velvet hangings and disappeared. In a few moments he returned leading his wife by the hand.
"Philippa," he said, gravely, "tell my wits your errand; hear what she says. We will abide by her decision."
At first the duchess drew back with a haughty gesture.
"It was you I came to see," she said to Lord Arleigh; and then the sweet face touched her and her better self prevailed.