Major Kent, in spite of the
excitement of the afternoon, was sound asleep when he was roused by a
sharp knocking at his door. He sat up in bed and struck a match.
"Good gracious, J. J.," he said, "what on earth do you want at this
time of night? Why aren't you asleep?"
"I couldn't sleep," said Meldon, "with the feeling on my mind that I
had been doing a wrong--quite without malice and under circumstances
which excuse it, but still doing a wrong to Miss King."
"You mean in mistaking her--"
"Quite so."
"That'll be all right, J. J. Don't worry about it. Go back to bed
again."
"I'm not worrying in the least," said Meldon. "I never worry; but when
I've done a wrong to anybody, I like to make amends at once."
"You can't do anything to-night. It's too late. Do go back to bed."
"I have done something. I've made amends, and here they are. I want
you to give them to her to-morrow morning."
He held out a sheet of paper as he spoke.
"If that's a written apology," said the Major, "it's quite unnecessary.
But you can leave it on the dressing-table. It's nice of you to think
of making it."
"It's not an apology," said Meldon.
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