"Pardon me, but I do not know what your name is now," was the apologetic remark from the other side of the room, and Celeste turned to her.
"My name is—is Sherrod, Miss Van," she said, slowly. Justine looked up in surprise and bewilderment. A shadow of unbelief crossed her face.
"Sherrod?" she asked, curiously. "Why, how strange that we should have the same name."
"The same name, Miss Van?"
"My name has not been Van for a long, long time. We were married before you met us in Proctor's Falls, I'm—why, what is the matter?"
"It is not true—it is not true," half shrieked Celeste. Justine shrank back as if confronted by a mad woman, instinctively shielding her boy. "Do you mean to tell me you were married to Jud Sherrod?" she continued, scornfully.
"IT IS NOT TRUE, HALF SHRIEKED CELESTE.
"Of course I was—don't look at me like that! What in the name of heaven is the matter, Mrs.—Mrs.——" A sickening thought struggled into Justine's mind. "Your name is—is Sherrod, too," she said, dully. "Has—has Jud anything to do with it?"