He saw that she was softening, and that it was safe for him to be a man.  “It has been with some difficulty that I have controlled myself throughout this experience,” he said, rising to his feet.  “If you do not mind, I think I will not carry the discussion any further, as I don’t feel that I can trust myself to listen to a defence of that woman from your lips.  I will only tell you my decision in the matter.  I have never before used my authority as a husband; I hoped I should never have to use it.  But the time has come when you will have to choose between Mary Abbott and your husband.  I will positively not tolerate your corresponding with her, or having anything further to do with her.  I take my stand upon that, and nothing will move me.  I will not even permit of any discussion of the subject.  And now I hope you will excuse me.  Dr. Perrin wishes me to tell you that either he or Dr. Gibson are ready at any time to advise you about these matters, which have been forced upon your mind against their judgment and protests.”

2.  You can see that it was no easy matter for Sylvia to get at the truth.  The nurses, already terrified because of their indiscretion, had been first professionally thrashed, and then carefully drilled as to the answers they were to make.  But as a matter of fact they did not have to make any answers at all, because Sylvia was unwilling to reveal to anyone her distrust of her husband.

One of two things was certain:  either she had been horribly wronged by her husband, or now she was horribly wronging him.  Which was the truth?  Was it conceivable that I, Mary Abbott, would leap to a false conclusion about such a matter?  She knew that I felt intensely, almost fanatically, on the subject, and also that I had been under great emotional stress.  Was it possible that I would have voiced mere suspicions to the nurses?  Sylvia could not be sure, for my standards were as strange to her as my Western accent.  She knew that I talked freely to everyone about such matters—­and would be as apt to select the nurses as the ladies of the house.  On the other hand, how was it conceivable that I could know positively?  To recognize a disease might be easy; but to specify from what source it had come—­that was surely not in my power!

They did not leave her alone for long.  Mrs. Tuis came in, with her feminine terrors.  “Sylvia, you must know that you are treating your husband dreadfully!  He has gone away down the beach by himself, and has not even seen his baby!”

“Aunt Varina—­” she began, “won’t you please go away?”

But the other rushed on:  “Your husband comes here, broken with grief because of this affliction; and you overwhelm him with the most cruel and wicked reproaches with charges you have no way in the world of proving——­” And the old lady caught her niece by the hand.  “My child!  Come, do your duty!”

“My duty?”

“Make yourself fit, and take your husband to see his baby.”