And I am to be free."
"You must go back to her. Take her south tomorrow. Asheville is the best
place."
Howard was on his way to the door. "We shall go by the first train," he
said.
"Pardon me for telling you so abruptly," said the doctor, following him.
"But I saw that you weren't--that is I couldn't help noticing that you and
she were--And usually the man in such cases--well, my sympathy is for the
woman."
"Do you think a man voluntarily lives with a woman because he hates her?"
Howard asked, with an angry sneer. He bowed coldly and was gone.
As he looked at Alice he saw that it was of no use to try to deceive her.
"We must go South in the morning," he almost whispered, taking her hand and
kissing it again and again, slowly and gently.
The next day but one they were at Asheville and two weeks later Howard
could not hide from himself that she would soon be gone.
* * * * *
Her bed was drawn up to the open window and she Was propped with pillows. A
mild breeze was flooding the room with the odours of the pine forests and
the gardens. She looked out, dilated her nostrils and her eyes.
"Beautiful!" she murmured. "It is so easy to die here."
She put out her hand and laid it in his.
"I want you, my Alice.
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