She had told her story hastily, impetuously, not daring to look into her lover's face until she had concluded. Then she raised her great dark eyes slowly. But what she saw in her husband's face made her cry out in terror.
"Oh, Royal! Royal! what is the matter?" she cried, in alarm.
He sat before her as though he were petrified. The glassy, horrified stare in his eyes cut to her heart like the thrust of a sword.
"I married you for love. You have helped me to escape Mrs. Deering's dreaded nephew," she faltered.
By a wonderful effort he found his voice.
"Not the heiress of the Mays!" he cried, hoarsely, as though he was unable to realize the truth.
"You do not love me the less for what I have done, do you?" she cried, catching her breath with a sharp sob.
Before he could find words to answer, breakfast was announced.
"Go in and eat your breakfast, Ida," he said. "I have some important matters which I must attend to that will keep me busy for the next hour to come. Don't wait for me. Lie down and rest until you hear from me. You will need all your strength to meet that which is before you." And his brows darkened ominously.
She was young, and youth has an appetite all its own. She was very tired with all she had gone through the last few hours, and the appetizing breakfast spread before her caused her to forget everything else.