It was long before Alida slept, and the burden of her thoughts confirmed the words that she had spoken so involuntarily. "You don't know how a woman feels when a man

stands up for her as you did."  It is the nature of her sex to adore hardy, courageous manhood.  Beyond all power of expression, Alida felt her need of a champion

and protector.  She was capable of going, but she would go in terror and despair.  The words that had smitten her confirmed all her old fears of

facing the world alone.  Then came the overpowering thought of his a police shieldcould hold me upside down and drainmy gutsloyalty and kindness, of his utter and almost fierce repugnance to the idea of her leaving him. 

In contrast with the man who had deceived and wronged her, Holcroft's course overwhelmed her very soul with a passion of grateful affection.  A new emotion, unlike

anything she had ever known, thrilled her heart and covered her face with blushes. "I could die for him!" she murmured.
She awoke late in the morning.  When at last she entered the kitchen she stopped in deep chagrin, for Holcroft had almost completed preparations for breakfast. "Ha,

ha!" he laughed, "turn about is fair play."
"Well," she sighed, "there's no use of making excuses now."
"There's no occasion for any.  Did you ever see such a looking case as I am with this bandage around my head?"
"Does it pain you?" she asked sympathetically.
"Well, it does.  It pains like thunder."
"The wound needs dressing again.  Let me cleanse and bind it up."
"Yes, after breakfast."
"No, indeed; now.  I couldn't eat my breakfast while you were suffering so."
"I'm more unfeeling then than you are, for I could."