"The right of another woman who does love him, and would save his
life," Madelon answered, fiercely. "The right of a woman who can love
more in an hour than such as you in a lifetime!"

"You--don't know--"

"I do know. You don't love him or you would not have distrusted him.
You would have made him tell you the truth. You would have flung your
arms around him, and you would not have let him go until he told you.
Did you do that? Answer me: did you do that?"

A great wave of red crept over Dorothy's face, but she replied, with
cold dignity: "I throw my arms around no man unbidden!"

"Unbidden!" repeated Madelon, and scorn seemed to sound in her voice
like the lash of a whip. She flung out the reins over the horse's
back, and they slipped along swiftly over the icy crust, and not
another word did she speak to Dorothy Fair all the way home.




Chapter X


When they entered Parson Fair's south yard there was a swift
disappearance of a dark face from a window, and the door was flung
open, and the grimly faithful servant-woman came forth and lifted
Dorothy out of the sleigh, crooning the while in tender and angry