"
He turned deliberately round in his seat towards her, and she was
struck with the forceful eagerness of his dark, set face.
"The man," he whispered hoarsely, "sinned for the love of the woman.
Was he right? Would a woman forgive a man who deceived her for her
own sake - when she knew?"
Ernestine held up her programme and studied it deeply.
"I cannot tell," she said, "it depends."
Trent drew a little breath and turned away. A quiet voice from his
other side whispered in his ear - "The woman would forgive if she
cared for the man."
* * * * *
Trent turned sharply and the light died out of his voice. Surely
it was an evil omen, this man's coming; for it was Captain Francis
who had taken the vacant seat and who was watching his astonishment
with a somewhat saturnine smile.
"Rather a stupid play, isn't it? By the by, Trent, I wish you would
ask Miss Wendermott's permission to present me. I met her young
cousin out at Attra."
Ernestine heard and leaned forward smiling. Trent did as he was
asked, with set teeth and an ill grace. From then, until the
curtain went up for the next act, he had only to sit still and
listen.
Afterwards the play scarcely fulfilled the promise of its
commencement.
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