"'In this way;' she explained, 'I imagined that if they sinned, it was either for sheer love or for bare life.'
"I looked down at the gold storks on the heavy eastern silk, and said, 'And when did you change your opinion?'
"'When I hung away this gown, and determined it should never touch me.'
"'This woman showed you a new type?'
"'Yes,' she replied, very simply, 'she neither loved nor starved.'
"For a long time the poor girl remained mute, staring at the ill-fated blue garment, and one of white cambric that hung the last on the hooks. I rose to put my arm round her, to break the skein of unpleasant associations, but she moved away, and said in a hard, almost defiant, voice:—
"'There is one more; tell me its tale if you can, and if not——'
"She paused while I took the fine lace and lawn into my fingers; it seemed a summer dress, scarcely crushed; in front, however, and on the sleeve was a splash of dull red-brown.
"'Paint?' I suggested, 'or blood. An accident, perhaps?' and in questioning I met her eyes.
"'Don't, don't!' I cried, 'don't speak!' I flung myself back in the chair, and covered my face to avoid the sight of hers—the expression of horror that was staring from it.