On the way to the river Ideala's spirits rose again, and they all
talked lightly, making a jest of everything; but while they were
waiting for a boat, Julian took up a bunch of charms that were attached
to Ideala's watch-chain and began to examine them coolly, and the
unwonted familiarity startled her. With a sudden revulsion of feeling
she turned to Lorrimer. She was annoyed by the slight indignity, and
also a little frightened. Whatever Lorrimer may have thought of her
before, he understood her look now, and his whole manner changed.
Julian left them for a moment. "I _am_ so ashamed of myself," Ideala
said. "I have made some dreadful mistake. I have done something
wrong."
"I am very sorry for you," he answered, gravely--and then, to his
brother, who had returned--"You can go on if you like. I am going
back."
"Oh, we can't go on without you," Ideala inter-posed; "and I would
rather go back too."
They began to retrace their steps, and Lorrimer, as they walked,
managed, with a few adroit questions, to learn from Ideala that the
trouble had something to do with her husband.
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