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beginning of the battle。 Punishment on punishment for an act which seemed right at the time had made her morbid； distrustful of herself。 And she could not conquer the dread lest her longing to be free was blinding her； was luring her on to fresh calamities； involving all whom she cared for； all who cared for her。 Whichever way she looked she could see only a choice between wrongs。 To stay under the same roof with him or at Dawn Hillself…respect put that out of the question。 To free herselfhow could she； when it meant sacrificing her parents and also the thousands shivering under the extortions of his monopoly？
In the end she chose the course that seemed to combine the least evil with the most good。 She would go to the Eyrie； and the world and her father and mother would think she was absenting herself from her husband to attend to the bringing up of her boy。 She would see even less of Scarborough than she saw when she was last at Saint X。
That afternoon she wrote to Dumont：
Since we had our talk I have found out about Leonora。 It is impossible for me to stay here。 I shall go West to…morrow。 But I shall not go to my father's； because of your circular I shall go to the Eyrie； insteadat least for the present。
PAULINE DUMONT。
Two weeks after she was again settled at the Eyrie； Langdon appeared in Saint X； alleging business at the National Woolens' factories there。 He accepted her invitation to stay with her； and devoted himself to Gladys； who took up her flirtation with him precisely where she had dropped it when they bade each the other a mock…mournful good…by five months before。 They were so realistic that Pauline came to the satisfying conclusion that her sister…in…law was either in earnest with Langdon or not in earnest with anybody。 If she had not been avoiding Scarborough； she would probably have seen Gladys' real gameto use Langdon as a stalking horse for him。
〃No doubt Scarborough； like all men； imagines he's above jealousy；〃 Gladys had said to herself； casting her keen eyes over the situation。 〃But there never was a man who didn't race better with a pace…maker than on an empty track。〃
Toward the end of Langdon's first week Pauline's suspicions as to one of the objects of his winter trip West were confirmed by his saying quite casually： 〃Dumont's dropped Fanshaw； and Leonora's talking of the stage。 In fact； she's gone abroad to study。〃
When he was leaving； after nearly three weeks； he asked her when she was coming back East。
〃NeverI hope；〃 she said； her fingers playing with the close…cropped curls of her boy standing beside her。
〃I fancied soI fancied so；〃 replied Langdon； his eyes showing that he understood her and that he knew she understood for whom he had asked。
〃You are going to stay onat the Eyrie？〃
〃I think so； unless somethingdisquietingoccurs。 I've not made up my mind。 Fate plays such queer tricks that I've stopped guessing at to…morrow。〃
〃What was it Miss Dumont's friend； Scarborough； quoted from Spinoza at Atwater's the other night？ ‘If a stone； on its way from the sling through the air； could speak； it would say； 〃How free I am！'〃 Is that the way you feel？〃
There came into Pauline's eyes a look of pain so intense that he glanced away。
〃We choose a path blindfold；〃 she said； her tone as light as her look was dark； 〃and we must go where it goesthere's no other ever afterward。〃
〃But if it leads down？〃
〃All the PATHS lead up；〃 she replied with a sad smile。 〃It's the precipices that lead down。〃
Gladys joined them and Langdon said to her：
〃Well； good…by； Miss Dumontdon't get married till you see me。〃 He patted the boy on the shoulder。 〃Good…by； Gardinerremember； we men must always be brave； and gentle with the ladies。 Good…by； Mrs。 Dumontkeep away from the precipices。 And if you should want to come back to us you'll have no trouble in finding us。 We're a lot of slow old rotters； and we'll be just where you left usyawning； and shying at new people and at all new ideas except about clothes； and gossiping about each other。〃 And he was in the auto and off for the station。
XVII
TWO AND THE BARRIER。
Scarborough often rode with Gladys and Pauline； sometimes with Gladys alone。 One afternoon in August he came expecting to go out with both。 But Gladys was not well that day。 She had examined her pale face and deeply circled eyes in her glass； she had counseled with her maida discreetly and soothingly frank French woman。 Too late to telephone him； she had overruled her longing to see him and had decided that at what she hoped was his 〃critical stage〃 it would be wiser not to show herself to him thus even in her most becoming tea…gown； which compelled the eyes of the beholder to a fascinating game of hide and seek with her neck and arms and the lines of her figure。
〃And Mrs。 Dumont？〃 inquired Scarborough of the servant who brought Gladys' message and note。
〃She's out walking； sir。〃
Scarborough rode away； taking the long drive through the grounds of the Eyrie； as it would save him a mile of dusty and not well…shaded highway。 A few hundred yards and he was passing the sloping meadows that lay golden bronze in the sun； beyond the narrow fringe of wood skirting and shielding the drive。 The grass and clover had been cut。 Part of it was spread where it had fallen； part had been raked into little hillocks ready for the wagons。 At the edge of one of these hillocks far down the slope he saw the tail of a pale blue skirt； a white parasol cast upon the stubble beside it。 He reined in his horse； hesitated； dismounted； tied his bridle round a sapling。 He strode across the field toward the hillock that had betrayed its secret to him。
〃Do I interrupt？〃 he called when he was still far enough away not to be taking her by surprise。
There was no answer。 He paused； debating whether to call again or to turn back。
But soon she was risingthe lower part of her tall narrow figure hid by the hillock； the upper part revealing to him the strong stamp of that vivid individuality of hers which separated her at once from no matter what company。 She had on a big garden hat； trimmed just a little with summer flowers； a blouse of some soft white material； with even softer lace on the shoulders and in the long； loose sleeves。 She gave a friendly nod and glance in his direction； and said： 〃Oh； nonot at all。 I'm glad to have help in enjoying this。〃
She was looking out toward the mists of the horizon hills。 The heat of the day had passed； the woods； the hillocks of hay were casting long shadows on the pale…bronze fields。 A breeze had sprung up and was lifting from the dried and drying grass and clover a keen； sweet； intoxicating perfumelike the odor which classic zephyrs used to shake from the flowing hair of woodland nymphs。
He stood beside her without speaking； looking intently at her。 It was the first time he had been alone with her since the afternoon at Battle Field when she confessed her marriage and he his love。
〃Bandit was lame；〃 she said when it seemed necessary to say something。
She rode a thoroughbred； Bandit； who would let no one else mount him； whenever she got a new saddle she herself had to help put it on； so alert was he for schemes to entrap him to some other's service。 He obeyed her in the haughty； nervous way characteristic of thoroughbredsobeyed because he felt that she was without fear； and because she had the firm but gentle hand that does not fret a horse yet does not let him think for an instant that he is or can be free。 Then； too； he had his share of the universal； fundamental vanity we should probably find swelling the oyster did we but know how to interpret it； and he must have appreciated what an altogether harmonious spectacle it was when he swept along with his mistress upon his back as light and free as a Valkyr。
〃I was sorry to miss the ride；〃 Pauline went on after another pauseto her； riding was the keenest of the many physical delights that are for those who have vigorous and courageous bodies and sensitive nerves。 Whenever it was possible she fought out her battles with herself on horseback； usually finding herself able there to drown mental distress in the surge of physical exultation。
As he still did not speak she looked at himand could not look away。 She had not seen that expression since their final hour together at Battle Field； though in these few last months she had been remembering it so exactly； had been wondering； doubting whether she could not bring it to his face again； had been forbidding herself to long to see it。 And there it was； unchanged like all the inflexible purposes that made his character and his career。 And back to her came； as it had come many and many a time in those years； the story he had told her of his father and mother； of his father's love for his motherhow it had enfolded her from the harshness and peril of pioneer life； had enfolded her in age no less than in youth； had gone down into and through the Valley of the Shadow with her； had not left her even at the gates of Death； but had taken him on with her into the Beyond。 And Pauline trembled； an enormous joy thrilling through and through her。
〃Don't！〃 she said uncertainly。 〃