Faynie turned a face toward her white as a marble statue, but no word
broke from her lips.
The presence of the others seemed to bring Kendale back to his senses.
"It means," spoke Faynie, after a full moment's pause, "that the hour
has come in which I must confess to all gathered here the pitiful story
I have to tell, and which will explain what has long been an unsolved
mystery to you--where, how and with whom I spent the time from the hour
in which I left this roof until I returned to it.
"You say that this is the man who is your daughter's lover, Mrs.
Fairfax--the man who is soon to marry Claire.
"I declare that this marriage can never be, because this man has a
living wife," she cried, in a high, clear voice.
"It is false!" shrieked Kendale. "The girl I married in the old church
is dead--dead, I tell you. I--I saw her buried with my own eyes!"
"She is not dead, for I am that unfortunate girl," answered Faynie, in a
voice that trembled with agonized emotion.
"Listen all, while I tell my story," she sobbed.
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