Page:Maud Howe - Atlanta in the South.djvu/124

 "Cannot! why?"

"Cannot, because, before God, I am as ignorant of his name as I am innocent of his crime."

"Listen, then."

He bent forward, and she whispered two words in his ear. Rondelet started to his feet with an exclamation. "It cannot be!" he cried.

"It is," she answered firmly.

At this moment the door was thrown open, and some guests were ushered in,—holiday guests, masked and hooded monks and nuns of the Carnival. When Mrs. Harden turned from greeting them, Philip was no longer in the room.