Suddenly he knew that the sonnet, on the envelope, blood-soaked, was burning in his hand. He raised it.

“Careful, dear!” she murmured. “Don't move.”

“We've quarreled, Grace—”

“Yes, I know.”

“I haven't been—decent, even—”

She was silent.

“But when I saw you to-night—” He unfolded the envelope. “I wrote this to-night. Up in the gallery...”

Slowly, in a low voice that trembled with passion, he read it to her. And he saw the tears crowd out and slowly fall. He had his effect.

“Grace, dear—”

“Yes, Peter.”