"Have you told him he must marry you at once?"
"Yes, I've implored him to on my bended knees."
"And he has refused?"
"Yes—he can't break his mother's heart, he says, and speaks of going to Australia."
"Very well—go to bed now, dear—I will see him to-morrow and see what I can do. I think he will marry you next week, perhaps, after all. You must undertake the inventing of a reason for the suddenness to the family, if I accomplish the fact. Go now, dear—I want to think."
Gladys sobbed her gratitude.
"And you don't believe I am really bad, Kitten, do you? Indeed, I never wanted—anything—but Bob—We went to the theatre one night and had a bit of supper—and afterwards, I was so afraid he would be off to Carry Green if I did not do as he wished."
Two great tears grew in Katherine's beautiful eyes, and rolled slowly down her white cheeks.
"I think—most men are devils, Glad—but nine-tenths of the women are fools—and fools always have to pay the price of everything in life. A woman always loses a man if she gives way to him against her conscience. You felt you were sinning all the time, I suppose?"