Markyn moved as if startled, and seemed about to speak. Beman scrutinized Peewee curiously. The old man seemed to puzzle over something and suddenly to comprehend, and raised his hand to check Walter. "Let her go on," he commanded.
"Spoil my life?" she echoed. "I don't know what you mean."
Peewee felt relief. He had not been conscious that the necessity he had had of lying to her about himself had made him feel his separation from her until now when the need for that had been removed.
"I was at the house," he confided.
"The house?" She drew her straight, dark brows together, puzzled.
"I went there after my—after that woman told me where he lived." He pointed at Walter. "They were talking there, and they said it would spoil your life to know about me, so I went out and shut the door and went away."
"My God!" said Jeffrey.
The woman comprehended. She drew him closer, her lip trembled and her eyes filled sud-
