It was a small sort of compensation for the weeks of mortification which she had endured.

There is something which might be said for Mrs.Adair; extenuations might be pleaded, even if no defence was made.

For she like Ethne was overtaxed that night.
That calm pale face of hers hid the quick passions of the South, and she had been racked by them to the limits of endurance.

There had been something grotesque, something rather horrible, in that outbreak and confession by Durrance, after Ethne had fled from the room.

He was speaking out his heart to an empty chair.