— and must have perished, no doubt — — ” She looked at me with melting eyes.

“Think on that, Euan, ere you grow too angry and are cruel with me.”

“Cruel? Lois, you have been more heartless than I ever — — ”

“There! I knew it! Your anger is about to burst its dreadful bounds — — ”

“Child! What is there to say or do now? What is there left for me, save to offer you what scant protection I may — good God! — and take you forward with us in the morning? This is a cruel, unmerited perplexity you have caused me, Lois. What unkind inspiration prompted you to do this rash, mad, foolish thing! How could you so conduct? What