He caught her hands.
"Let's go into the garden," she said as he held them. "I have something to say to you."
They sat down together. "Something has happened since I saw you," she began.
"Has the break come?" demanded Kimberly instantly.
"We had a very painful scene night before last," said Alice. "The break has come. He has gone to town--he went yesterday morning. I have asked myself many questions since then. My father and mother are dead. I have no home to go to, and I will not live even under the same roof with him any longer. I feel so strange. I feel turned out, though there was nothing of that in what he said--indeed, I am afraid I did most of the talking."
"I wish to God I had heard you!"
"It is better not. Every heart knoweth its own bitterness----"
"Let me help bear yours."
"I feel homeless, I feel so alone, so ashamed--I don't know what I don't feel. You will never know what humiliation, what pain I have been through for two days. Robert--" her voice faltered for an instant. Then she spoke on, "I never can tell you of the sickness and shame I have long felt of even pretending to live with some one I could not respect."
"Close the book of its recollection. I came into your life for just such a moment, to be everything you need. I am home, husband, and protection--everything."