"Oh yes. He says he's not badly hurt, and Merkle agrees. Lord!
we'd never left him alone if we'd thought--"

"I'm glad. When the telephone rang I thought--it was the police."

"There, there!" he said, comfortingly, seeing her tremble. "I
won't let anybody hurt you. I was terribly drunk--things are
swimming yet--but all the way across town I couldn't think of
anything, anybody except you and what it would mean to you if it
got out."

"It will get out, I'm sure. Such things always do."

He eyed her gravely, kindly, with an expression she had never seen
upon his face.

"Then--we'll face it together," he said.

After a moment her glance drooped, a faint color tinged her
cheeks. "I--wouldn't dare face it alone. I couldn't. But you're
tired--sick." He nodded. "You must lie down and sleep, and get to
be yourself again--We can't tell what may happen now at any
moment."

"It's the reaction, I suppose. I'm all in. And you?"

She shook her head. "I couldn't sleep if I tried. I feel as if I'd
never be able to sleep again. I--I'll sit and watch and--wait."