Fortunately for Wickersham, she was so much engrossed in her recital that she did not observe her companion's face until he had recovered himself. He had fallen a little behind her and did not interrupt her until he had quite mastered himself. Then he asked quietly:
"Where did you get that story?"
"Mr. Keith told me."
"And he said the man who did that was a 'gentleman'?"
"No, he did not say that; he did not give me the least idea who it was. Do you know who it was?"
The question was so unexpected that Wickersham for a moment was confounded. Then he saw that she was quite innocent. He almost gasped.
"I? How could I? I have heard that story--that is, something of it. It is not as Mr. Keith related it. He has some of the facts wrong. I will tell you the true story if you will promise not to say anything about it."
Lois promised.
"Well, the truth is that the poor creature was crazy; she took it into her head that she was married to some one, and ran away from home to try and find him. At one time she said it was a Mr. Wagram; then it was a man named Plume, a drunken sot; then I think she for a time fancied it was Mr. Keith himself; and"--he glanced at her quickly--"I am not sure she did not claim me once. I knew her slightly. Poor thing! she was quite insane."
"Poor thing!" sighed Lois, softly. She felt more kindly toward Wickersham than she had ever done before.