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 years before; he did not think at all of Fidelia. "You loyal, little Alice! What can I do to-day? Tell me what I can do?"

"Love me!"

"Love you! Oh, my God, I do!"

"Do you, David?"

"You mean—do I forget her? I don't! I told the truth that day. Often I think of her, when she was my wife. I suppose I always will. But I don't want her now; and that's as true as the other. Alice, I want you!"

"I want you, David!" She raised her hands against him when he moved; and he halted as she held him with her slender, gentle hands. "But I've always wanted you," she said.

"Yes," he replied and was silent.

"David, in my room, after you telephoned, I said that pride musn't make any difference to-day. You're going to war as Lan went. Nothing like pride should make any difference; but it does! David, you had me and you wanted her and you got her and kept her till she left you."

David said, "How can I deny that?"

"You can't but you can tell me another truth. Tell me, if it's the truth, David, but only if it's true! You went to her because there was lack in me; but you found lack in her, too, didn't you? Else, why did you telephone me that day your father bothered you? That day—that day, at least—she wasn't everything for you! You wanted me, though you had her; is that true?"

"Yes."