She had felt the romance of the position to be sweet when Phineas had stood with her at the top of the falls of the Linter, and had told her of the hopes which he had dared to indulge.

And when at the bottom of the falls he had presumed to take her in his arms, she had forgiven him without difficulty to herself, telling herself that that would be the alpha and the omega of the romance of her life.

She had not felt herself bound to tell Mr.Kennedy of what had occurred,--but she had felt that he could hardly have been angry even had he been told.

And she had often thought of her lover since, and of his love,--telling herself that she too had once had a lover, never regarding her husband in that light; but her thoughts had not frightened her as guilty thoughts will do.

There had come a romance which had been pleasant, and it was gone.