“Mabella said——” began young Shinar.
“Let go of him,” said Vashti almost savagely. “How dare you! Lanty is as sober as I am. The idea of you daring to do this thing! They ought to be ashamed, Lanty!”
The detaining hands fell from him. He gave her one look of passionate gratitude, the one sole recompense Vashti Lansing ever received for the love which had ruined her whole life. The young men slunk away. Lanty felt a terrible reaction sweep across him, and fell atrembling with real physical weakness.
He remembered his repulse of Mabella.
“Vashti,” he said, “go and ask Mabella to come to me. I said something ugly to her. I want her to forgive me.”
Vashti went with seeming readiness. Lanty rested white and trembling, alone, before the flaming ruin of his home. Presently Vashti came towards him slowly.
He raised his head.
“Where’s Mabella?” he asked. “She’s all right, isn’t she?”
“Yes, but, Lanty, I’m very sorry, she won’t come.”