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 something of her partner which sent him away. So David came upon her alone and awaiting him with her clear, blue eyes looking up at him and very bright. "Good evening, David," she said quietly but her breast was heaving.

He replied and then asked, "You've heard, haven't you?"

"About what?"

"Fidelia's left me."

"What did you say?"

"Fidelia left me; didn't you know it, Alice?"

"Yes," she replied but till this moment she had not known that. These were the words she had expected him to say but not to say them as he did; for he told her Fidelia had truly left him. It was not that he had sent her away.

With this, her triumph over Fidelia should have flown; it should have left Alice empty, it had so filled her before. But it did not. How could she care in what manner Fidelia had left since actually Fidelia was gone and David was beside her with no Fidelia about?

"Sit down, David," Alice said.

"You want me to?"

"Please."

"Why? What's the use?"

"She's gone, isn't she, David? She's not coming back, is she?"

"No; she's not coming back."

"Then what's the difference to me whether she—went or you sent her away?"

At this, he realized that she must have heard that