Wickersham grew angry.
"Don't be a fool, Louise. You have broken with your husband. Now, don't go and throw away happiness for a priest's figment. Get a divorce and marry me, if you want to; but at least accept my love."
But he had overshot the mark. He had opened her eyes. Was this the man she had taken as her closest friend!--for whom she had quarrelled with her husband and defied the world!
Wickersham watched her as her doubt worked its way in her mind. He could see the process in her face. He suddenly seized her and drew her to him.
"Here, stop this! Your husband has abandoned you and gone after another woman."
She gave a gasp, but made no answer.
She pushed him away from her slowly, and after a moment rose and walked from the room as though dazed.
It was so unexpected that Wickersham made no attempt to stop her.
A moment later Lois entered the room. She walked straight up to him. Wickersham tried to greet her lightly, but she remained grave.
"Mr. Wickersham, I do not think you--ought to come here--as often as you do."