as he. But women consider it a point of honour to smile when they

stab; Margaret smiled with an innocence that would have seemed

overdone in an angel.

Then, in an instant, she had the grace to be abjectly ashamed of

herself. Billy's face had gone white. His mouth was set, mask-like,

and his breathing was a little perfunctory. It stung her, though, that

he was not angry. He was sorry.

"I--I see," he said, very carefully. "You think I--want the money.

Yes--I see."

"And why not?" she queried, pleasantly. "Dear me, money's a very