What happened next was one of those tragedies of bewildering motive, so common and so fatal, in which it is impossible to decide whether evil passion or evil circumstances plays the chief malicious part.
Dan walked straight to the new Ballamona, and pushed through the house without ceremony, as it had been his habit to do in other days, to the room where Mona was to be found. She was there, and she looked startled at his coming.
"Is it you, Dan?" she said, in a tremulous whisper.
He answered sullenly:
"It is I. I have come to speak with you. I have something to say—but no matter—"
He stopped and threw himself into a chair. His head ached, his eyes were hot, and his mind seemed to him to be in darkness and confusion.
"Mona, I think I must be going mad," he stammered after a moment.
"Why talk like that?" she said. Her bosom heaved and her face was troubled.
He did not answer, but after a pause turned toward her, and said in a quick, harsh tone, "You did not expect to see me here, and you have been forbidden to receive me. Is it not so?"
She colored deeply, and did not answer at once, and then she began, with hesitation: