And the end ?" he asked quietly.
"A little child again--quite happy and content--playing with toys--very gentle, very pitiable--" The hot tears filled her eyes.

"Oh, Phil!" she sobbed and hid her face on his shoulder.
Over the soft, faintly fragrant hair he stared stupidly, lips apart, chin loose.
A little later, Nina sat up in the hammock, daintily effacing the traces of tears.

Selwyn was saying: "If this is so, that Ruthven man has got to stand by her.

Where could she go--if such trouble is to come upon her?
To whom can she turn if not to him?
He is responsible for her--doubly so, if her condition is to be--_that_! By every law of manhood he is bound to stand by her now; by every law of decency and humanity he cannot desert her now.

If she does these--these indiscreet things--and if he knows she is not altogether mentally responsible--he cannot fail to stand by her! How can he, in God's name!" "Phil," she said, "you speak like a man, but she has no man to stand loyally by her in the direst need a human soul may know.