edient," Framtree
said unsteadily, "since you know her."

Bedient liked that.

"I made it a bit hard for you," he replied, "the way I told it--as if
you didn't count at all with me--only as something she wanted--but you
do, Jim----"

"...We'll come back, or I'll come back," Framtree said, and he turned
away from the other's eyes.

Bedient had looked upon him that moment, as if he would add his own
soul's strength to the strength of Framtree.... The hours that
followed, to the moment of the _Henlopen's_ sailing, were hours of
building. Framtree found himself locked in the concentration of
Bedient's ideals--matters of manhood fitted about him, that he had not
aspired to. And it was not easy to fall from them, when Bedient
believed in him so truly.

And Miss Mallory lured back Bedient's strength. He ate, drank and slept
at her bidding.... So little she said, so instant to understand, so
strange and different she was, waiting upon his words as upon a
master's.... The last evening at the _hacienda_ (the _Henlopen_ had
arrived in the harbor) he played for them upon the orchestrelle. Music
came forth new and of big import to his consciousness.... He had tried
the soul-rousing _heimweh_ from the slow movement of Dvorak's _New
World Symphony_, when Miss Mallory, looking over the rolls, discovered
the _Andante_ of Beethoven's Fifth.

"Don't you remember--the orchestra--that night?... It's wonderful and
mysterious--won't you----?" But she saw the look that came into his
face, and did not finish. Instead, she put the roll away quickly,
knowing she had touched a more vital association than a theatre fright.

"Don't mind, and please forgive me----"

...That night they stood together at the door of the little room, for
she had refused to change. Bedient said:

"Every time I think of you I feel better, Adith Mallory.... I shall
think of you often, always as if you were in the little room next to
mine."

They went aboard the following night, and sailed at dawn. Bedient rode
back to the _hacienda_ during the morning.... How strange it will
be--alone, he thought; stranger still, he faced the prospect without
dread.... A hush had fallen upon the hills, and upon his heart. Some
mysterious movement was stirring at the centres of his life....

A box of pictures had come on the _Henlopen_; also a letter from
Torvin. There were three canvases in the latest shipment, and seven had
come to the _hacienda_ while he was in New York.