And as
Laura alighted, she heard Page's voice calling from the front hall that
the others had umbrellas, that the maid was not to wait.

The hansom splashed away, and Corthell and Laura mounted the steps of
the house.

"Won't you come in?" she said. "There is a fire in the library."

But he said no, and for a few seconds they stood under the vestibule
light, talking. Then Corthell, drawing off his right-hand glove, said:

"I suppose that I have my answer. You do not wish for a change. I
understand. You wish to say by that, that you do not love me. If you
did love me as I love you, you would wish for just that--a change. You
would be as eager as I for that wonderful, wonderful change that makes
a new heaven and a new earth."

This time Laura did not answer. There was a moment's silence. Then
Corthell said:

"Do you know, I think I shall go away."

"Go away?"

"Yes, to New York. Possibly to Paris. There is a new method of fusing
glass that I've promised myself long ago I would look into. I don't
know that it interests me much--now. But I think I had better go. At
once, within the week. I've not much heart in it; but it seems--under
the circumstances--to be appropriate." He held out his bared hand.
Laura saw that he was smiling.

"Well, Miss Dearborn--good-by."

"But why should you go?" she cried, distressfully. "How perfectly--ah,
don't go," she exclaimed, then in desperate haste added: "It would be
absolutely foolish."

"_Shall_ I stay?" he urged. "Do you tell me to stay?"

"Of course I do," she answered. "It would break up the play--your
going. It would spoil my part. You play opposite me, you know. Please
stay."

"Shall I stay," he asked, "for the sake of your part? There is no one
else you would rather have?" He was smiling straight into her eyes, and
she guessed what he meant.

She smiled back at him, and the spirit of daring never more awake in
her, replied, as she caught his eye:

"There is no one else I would rather have."

Corthell caught her hand of a sudden.

"Laura," he cried, "let us end this fencing and quibbling once and for
all. Dear, dear girl, I love you with all the strength of all the good
in me. Let me be the best a man can be to the woman he loves."

Laura flashed a smile at him.

"If you can make me love you enough," she answered.

"And you think I can?" he exclaimed.

"You have my permission to try," she said.

She hoped fervently that now, without further words, he w