“I cried a little, I believe, when I got your note—­I went up into this room and opened this despatch-box and read your horrid letter again—­and I believe I looked into the blue leather case, too”—­here she opened it once more—­and they both examined it tenderly.  “Of course you can’t see anything much in this little photograph—­but he really was so like you, Michael, and when I looked at it again after seeing you, I could have sobbed aloud, I wanted you so——­”

“My dear, dear, little girl——­”

“Henry had told me casually that afternoon your story, and how he had not stayed at Arranstoun for the wedding because he thought your action so unfair to the bride!—­and how that now you felt rather a dog in the manger about her.  That infuriated me!  Can’t you understand I had only one desire, to show you that I did not care since you had gone off.  Henry was simply angelic to me—­and asked me so seriously if he could really make me happy, if not he would release me then.  I felt if he would take me, all bruised and restless, and comfort me and bring me peace, I did indeed wish to be his wife—­and if nothing more had happened we might have grown quite happy from then, but we went to England—­and I saw you again—­and—­Oh! well, Michael, need I tell you any more?  You know how we fenced and how at last we could not bear it—­up in Mrs. Forster’s room!”

“It was the most delirious and most unhappy moment of my life, darling.”

“And now it is all over—­isn’t Henry a splendid man?  I told him all this yesterday—­the Pere Anselme had suggested to him to come and ask me for the truth.  He behaved too nobly—­but I did not know what he intended to do, nor if it were too late to stop the divorce or anything, so I was miserable.”

“You shall not be so any more—­we will go back to Arranstoun at once, darling, and begin a new and glorious life together.  From every point of view that is the best thing to be done.  We could not possibly go on all staying here, it would be grotesque—­and I am quite determined that I will never leave you again—­do you hear, Sabine?” And he turned her face and made her look into his eyes.

“Yes, I hear!—­and know that you were always the most masterful creature!”

“Do you want to change me?”

But Sabine let herself be clasped in his arms while she abandoned herself to the deep passionate joy she felt.

“No—­Michael—­I would not alter you in one little bit, we are neither of us very good or very clever, but I just love you and you love me—­and we are mates!  There!”

* * * * *

They carried out their plans and arrived at Arranstoun Castle a few days later.  Michael wired to have everything ready for their reception and both experienced the most profound emotion when first they entered Michael’s sitting-room again.

“There is the picture, darling, that you fell through and—­here is Binko waiting to receive and welcome you!”