It happened of itself," she said irritably; "and see..." she pulled her husband's letter out of her glove.

"I understand, I understand," he interrupted her, taking the letter, but not reading it, and trying to soothe her.

" The one thing I longed for, the one thing I prayed for, was to cut short this position, so as to devote my life to your happiness.

" "Why do you tell me that?" she said.