"No; nor 'heartbreak' either," said the doctor, helping himself to one of
the colonel's cigars. "But I don't say there isn't enough to keep a woman
awake nights, and to make those young men avoid the sight of each other
for a time. Thanks, I won't smoke now. I'm going to take a look at Mrs.
Bogardus as I go out."




XV


A BRIDEGROOM OF SNOW

The doctor had taken his look, feeling a trifle guilty under his patient's
counter gaze, yet glad to have relieved the good colonel's anxiety. If he
loved to gossip, at least he was particular as to whom he gossiped with.

Moya closed the door after him and silently resumed her seat. Mrs.
Bogardus helped herself to a sip of water. She was struggling with a dry
constriction of the throat, and Moya protested a little, seeing the effort
that it cost her to speak, even in the hoarse, unnatural tone which was
all the voice she had left.

"I want to finish now," she said, "and never speak of this again. It was I
who accused them first--and then I asked him:--if there was anything he
could say in their defense, to say it, for Chrissy's sake! 'I will never
break bread with them again,' said he,--'either Banks or Horace. I will
not eat with them, or drink with them, or speak with them again!' Think of