"Insult the man I love. If what you say is true, it would mean he
didn't truly love me. You lie! I tell you he does! You lie--you lie!"

"You're right," assented Windebank sadly, after a moment's thought.
"You're quite right. I made a mistake. I ask everyone's pardon. How
could any man fail to appreciate you?"

Much to his surprise, her anger soon abated. A not too convincing
light-heartedness took the place of this stormy ebullition. If
Windebank had been more skilled in the mechanism of a woman's heart, he
would have promptly divined the girl's gaiety had been wilfully
assumed, in order to conceal from herself the anxiety that Windebank's
words, with reference to the proper conduct of a true lover, had
inspired. By the time they had reached her door, she had expended her
fund of forced gaiety; she was again the subdued Mavis whom trouble had
fashioned. She thanked Windebank many times for his kindness; although
she was tired, she was in no mood to leave him. She liked the
restfulness that she discovered in his company; also, she dreaded
to-night the society of her own thoughts.

They were now standing in the street immediately outside the door of
her lodging. They had been silent for some moments. Mavis regretfully
realised that he must soon leave her.

"Will you do me a favour?" he asked suddenly.

She looked up inquiringly.

"May I see---?" he continued softly. "May I see---?"

"My boy?" she asked, divining his wish.

She thought for a moment before slipping into the house. A little
later, she came out carrying the sleeping baby in her arms. Mavis's
heart inclined to Windebank for his request; at the same time, she knew
well that, were she a man, and in his present situation, she would not
be the least interested in the loved woman's child, whose father was a
successful rival.

Windebank uncovered the little one's face. He looked at it intently for
a while. He then bent down to kiss the baby's forehead.

"God bless you, little boy!" he murmured. "God bless you and your
beautiful mother!"

He then covered the baby's face, and walked quickly away in the
direction of Victoria.

That night, Mavis saw dawn touch the eastern sky with light before she
slept. She lay awake, wondering at and trying to resolve into coherence
the many things which had gone to the shaping of her life. What
impressed her most was that so many events of moment had been brought
about by trivial incidents to which she had attached n