And this was the man of whom she had a moment ago cherished such tender thoughts of forgiveness; this was the man for whose sake she had made up her mind to forego her happiness.
Her overstrained nerves exaggerated the whole thing painfully. She fled back to her room and locked and bolted the door.
She heard Chris come upstairs and heard him walking unsteadily about the room, and after a long time she heard him click out the light. Everything was silent then, but Marie Celeste lay awake till dawn, her brown eyes wide with horror.
She had kept her idol on its pedestal with difficulty for some time now, but to-night it had fallen . . .
Chris was down late for breakfast the next morning; but he looked quite fresh and brisk as she met him in the hall.
"You had better ring for more coffee," she said. "I am afraid it is cold; you are late."
"I know; I was late home last night."
She did not say that she had heard and seen him and went on without answering. Presently he sought her out. His blue eyes were anxious, and he looked very boyish and nervous.
"Well, Marie, what is it to be?"
210 Marie was writing a letter in the drawing-room and she laid the pen down and turned in her chair.