"I always have left him," exclaimed Evelyn. "I am going to Brandon now to-night intime for the early train. Rance Belmont will drive me."

Something warned Mrs. Corbett not to say all that was inside her heart, soshe temporized.

"Sure, if I were you I wouldn't go off at night--it don't look well.Stay here till mornin'. The daylight's the best time to go. Don't gooff at night as if you were doin' something you were ashamed of. Go inbroad daylight."

"What do I care what people say about me?" Evelyn raged again. "Theycan't say any worse than my husband believes of me. No--I am going--Iwant to put distance between us; I just came in to say good-bye and totell you how it happened. I wanted you and Mr. Corbett to know thetruth, for you have been kind friends to me, and I'll never, neverforget you."

"I'd be afraid you'd never get to Brandon tonight, honey." Mrs. Corbettheld her close, determining inside her own mind that she would lock her inthe pantry if there was no other way of detaining her. "Listen to thewind--sure it really is layin' in for a blizzard. I knew that all day. Theroads will be drifted so high you'd never get there, even with the giganticpacer. Stay here tonight just to oblige me, and you can go on in themorning if it really is fit."