s
of her hat he caught her eye--the human eye that so marvellously
reflects the phases of the human soul: the eye which so short a time
before hardily and brazenly had flashed forth its invitation, now
actually shone with fellowship and sympathy. And for a moment this look
was more startling, more appalling than the other; he shrank from it,
resented it even more. Was it true that they had something in common?
And if so, was it sin or sorrow, or both?

"I might have known," she said, staring at him. In spite of his gesture
of dissent, he saw that she was going over the events of the evening
from her new point of view.

"I might have known, when we were sitting there in Harrods, that you
were up against it, too, but I couldn't think of anything but the way I
was fixed. The agent's been here twice this week for the rent, and I was
kind of desperate for a square meal."

Hodder took the dustpan from her hand, and flung its contents into the
fireplace.

"Then we are both fortunate," he said, "to have met each other."

"I don't see where you come in," she told him.

He turned and smiled at her.

"Do you remember when I was here that evening about two months ago I
said I should like to be your friend? Well, I meant it. And I have often
hoped, since then, that some circumstance might bring us together again.
You seemed to think that no friendship was possible between us, but I
have tried to make myself believe that you said so because you didn't
know me."

"Honest to God?" she asked. "Is that on the level?"

"I only ask for an opportunity to prove it," he replied, striving to
speak naturally. He stooped and laid the dustpan on the hearth. "There!
Now let's sit down."

She sank on the sofa, her breast rising and falling, her gaze dumbly
fixed on him, as one under hypnosis. He took the rocker.

"I have wanted to tell you how grateful Mrs. Garvin, the boy's
mother--was for the roses you brought. She doesn't know who sent them,
but I intend to tell her, and she will thank you herself. She is living
out in the country. And the boy--you would scarcely recognize him."

"I couldn't play the piano for a week after--that thing happened." She
glanced at the space where the instrument had stood.

"You taught yourself to play?" he asked.

"I had music lessons."

"Music lessons?"

"Not here--before I left home--up the State, in a little country
town,--Madison. It seems like a long time ago, but it's only seven years
in