There was a gentle knocking at the door. It made her flesh creep. The knock came again. It went shrieking through and through her.

“Kirry,” whispered a voice from without.

She did not stir.

“It's only Pete.”

She neither spoke nor moved.

There was silence for a moment, and then, half nervously, half jovially, half in laughter, half with emotion as if the heart outside was palpitating, the voice came again, “I'm coming in, darling!”

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PART IV. MAN AND WIFE.

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I.