suppose it does seem narrow and worldly to you, with your wider ideas of freedom and loyalty. But hard as this may be for us both, you must abide by my decision." For another moment Jack remained silent, her face flooding first with color and then the color receding until she was curiously pale, so that the darkness of her lashes showed shadows on her white cheeks. "I am sorry, Frank," she answered quietly, "but in this matter I can not accept your decision. I am a woman—not a child—and this is a matter for my conscience as well as[137] yours. Even if I am wrong, whatever consequences I must suffer from your failing ever to see this as I do, I must go to Bryan if he is still alive." [137] Then Jack went quickly into her own room again. [138] [138] CHAPTER XI However, he did not sleep much, although not once did his conviction that he was doing the right thing waver. Frank had the belief in his own judgment which comes to certain people with authority. Also, he disliked to suggest to his wife any of the little, ugly, suspicious things of life, which he knew her fine, clean nature would not consider. But all the more for this reason did he believe that he should protect her, even against herself. Therefore, at breakfast the next morning, Frank made no reference to Jack's final defiance the night before. Not for an instant did he think that she had meant anything, except to have him appreciate how utterly her point of view and her inclination differed from his. This he accepted, realizing that he really[139] could not, under the circumstances, expect anything else. But that Jack would ignore his wish—even his expressed command—was beyond his comprehension. She had always been perfectly reasonable and amenable, and there was nothing to serve him as a warning. [139] "I'll let you know as soon as I hear from the war office," Frank remarked, as he left for London. Jack simply nodded quietly
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