The melancholy,
regretful tone she adopted was ten times worse than anger, and by
the time they reached the inn where they had dined he was sunk in
the depths of self-abasement.
If he had been less preoccupied with his own remorse he might have
reflected that Edith's attitude, especially as she did not
expressly withhold the prospect of ultimate pardon, established a
closer bond between them than ever before. But there was no room
in his mind for such a thought.
In reply to his knock an old woman came to the door and sleepily
admitted them. Edith stood for a moment on the threshold, then,
seeing that he made no motion to accompany her, she said good-
night, and, quietly entering, closed the door behind her.
Kirk experienced a sudden desire to escape. To remain where he was
simply prolonged his humiliation. Instinctively he felt that, if
he could only get away where he could view the matter in an every-
day light, it would cease to trouble him. But evidently he could
not desert Edith. He sat down upon the doorstep and gave himself
up to bitter thoughts.
She was such a wonderful woman, he told himself; she had been such
a true friend to him that he had been worse than criminal to lose
her respect. And Cortlandt had been so decent to him! It was
significant that this gave him the most discomfort of all.
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