John tells me that you have promised to divorce him. That's
very generous of you."
"You seem to ignore the point that a divorce suit involves a
co-respondent."
"No; not at all. I wanted to see you in order to thank you; and then to
arrange the details so that the matter can go through with as little
trouble as possible. Of course, after your kindness, I shall let the
suit go undefended."
Olive searched the bandaged face of her rival with merciless scrutiny.
But the blinded girl seemed unconscious of that look of stabbing hatred
and suspicion. She was apparently smiling happily--weaving day-dreams.
Her hand went out to the vase of white lilac caressingly.
For that was the part Elaine had set herself to play for the sake of the
man she loved. He had been beaten down to his knees by Larssen and Olive
in the shipowner's office because he had had Elaine to protect. To save
her from the mire of the divorce court he had had to give in and sign at
Larssen's dictation.
Now she was determined to release him for free action. Whatever it might
cost her in self-respect, she was going to make Olive believe that a
divorce suit was the one thing she most ardently desired.
"I shall let the divorce suit go undefended," she had said, smiling
happily.
Olive made a decisive effort to regain the whip-hand. "Divorce by
collusion is out of the question!" she retorted sharply. "The King's
Proctor sees to that. You don't imagine that it's sufficient merely to
say you don't defend the suit? There must be evidence before the Court.
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