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238ARIADNE.yawning earth,or the leaping fires, to purify thesouls of those whom she had cursed." Let me go tohim!" she cried once ; for itwas still the living manof whom she thought themost, and perchance the womanin the crowdhadbeen right; perhapsit was he who needed pitythe most.Thenher head fell onher breast." Icannot,""she muttered. He wiU hateme for ever, — now."She dared not go tohim; she through whom,all innocently,Ids hands were red with the bloodof his friend.She was to herself accursed,and the death andthe sin thathad comeby her lay onher innocentsoullike lead, and under the ghastly weight of itthe youthinher withered as the grass withers upunder aheavy stone.Day by clay, slowly,the strengthin her waned,and the loveliness of her faded.To her none of the common excuses for hisact wouldhave been inteUigible. She understoodnone of the customs and conventions that rulethe world he dweltin;she couldnot have compre-