A Butterfly on the Wheel Part 43

Admaston nodded.

"Yes, yes; I see," he said. "I will do what I can."

Collingwood, realising that he had been emotional, pulled himself together with immense aplomb. "It must be a comforting and flattering reflection that, but for the fit of nerves which caused Alice to write that second letter three days ago, there is probably not a judge nor jury in the world which would have refused to make you miserable for life, Admaston."

"You are right, Colling," he said; "but at the moment when no judge nor jury would have doubted her guilt--then, for the first time, I knew in my heart she was innocent."

Collingwood had listened to this, but had also been moving slowly towards the door of the drawing-room.

"But you, Colling----" Peggy said.

Collingwood's hand was upon the door. "Never mind about me," he said.

"Peggy, I did a rotten thing because I cared for you, but I've tried to play the game since for the same reason; and if George can really forgive me for just the same reason----"

He stopped, looking with a wan, pathetic, but very tender face at the two who stood there clinging to each other.

Peggy looked up into her husband's face. "George!" she said quietly.

"--I think I'll go on playing it," Collingwood ended.

Admaston did not look at Collingwood, but he looked down at his wife.

Then he lifted his head and smiled with a sort of grave kindness at the man by the door.

"I think I can forgive you anything to-day, Colling," he said.

Collingwood half turned the handle. "Good-bye, then, little b.u.t.terfly,"

he said, and there was a dreadful pain in his voice.

Peggy looked up into her husband's face.

What she saw there satisfied her.

She left him and walked shyly towards Collingwood and held out her hand.

He took it, bowed over it as if to kiss it, refrained, and then opened the door.

"Your wings are not really broken--not really," he said in a voice which was absolutely broken.

There was a sound of the soft closing of a door--a little click as it fell into place.

Peggy ran back to her husband and put her hands upon his shoulders.

"My husband!" she said.

He caught her in his arms--in his strong arms.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "He caught her in his arms--in his strong arms."]

"Little Peggy!" he answered.

"George!" she said. "I have wanted you so!"

But both Mr. Roderick Collingwood and Lady Alice Attwill dined alone with their thoughts that night.

THE END