"Is this true?"
"It's quite true," said poor Dick.
"You see, my dear," said Austin, "what it costs him--what it costs us both--to tell you this."
"But I don't understand. I don't understand!" she cried, with sudden piteousness. "What did you mean, then--a little while ago--in the armoury?"
Austin, who did not see the allusion, had to allow Dick to speak for himself.
"I was drunk," said Dick desperately. "I've been drinking heavily of late--and not accountable for my actions. I oughtn't to have done what I did."
"And so, you see," continued Austin, with some eagerness, "when he became confronted with the great change in his life--Vancouver--he looked at things soberly. He found that his feelings towards you were not of the order that would warrant his making you his wife."
Before Viviette could reply the door opened, and Mrs. Ware and Katherine entered the room. Mrs. Ware, ignorant of tension, went smilingly to Austin, and, drawing down his shapely head with both hands, kissed him.
"My dear, dear boy, I'm so glad, so truly glad. Katherine has just told me."
"Told you what, mother?" asked Viviette quickly, with a new sharpness in her voice.