cross the room and stood
silent a moment at Jean's side.

'What is the matter?'

The girl started. Impossible for her to speak in that first moment. But
when she had dried her eyes, she said, with a pathetic childish air--

'I--I've been seeing Geoffrey.'

'Is this the effect "seeing Geoffrey" has?' said the other, with an
attempt at lightness.

'You see, I know now,' Jean explained, with the brave directness that
was characteristic.

The more sophisticated woman presented an aspect totally unenlightened.

'I know how he'--Jean dropped her eyes--'how he spoiled some one else's
life.'

'Who tells you that?' asked Miss Levering.

'Several people have told me.'

'Well, you should be very careful how you believe what you hear.'

'You know it's true!' said the girl, passionately.

'I know that it's possible to be mistaken.'

'I see! You're trying to shield him----'

'Why should I? What is it to me?'

'Oh-h, how you must love him!' she said with tears.

'I? Listen to me,' said Vida, gravely. As she drew up a chair the girl
rose to her feet.

'What's the use--what's the use of your going on denying it?' As she saw
Vida was about to break in, she silenced her with two words, '_Geoffrey
doesn't._' And with that she fled away to the window.

Vida half rose, and then relinquished the idea of following the girl,
seemed presently to forget her, and sat as one alone with sorrow. When
Jean had mastered herself, she came slowly back. Not till she was close
to the motionless figure did the girl lift her eyes.

'Oh, don't look like that,' the girl prayed. 'I shall bring him back to
you.'

She was on her knees by Vida's chair. The fixed abstraction went out of
the older face, but it was very cold as she began--

'You would be impertinent--if--you weren't a romantic child. You can't
bring him back.'

'Yes, yes, he----'

'No. But'--Vida looked deep into the candid eyes--'there is something
you _can_ do----'

'What?'

'Bring him to a point where he recognizes that he is in our debt.'

'In _our_ debt?'

Vida nodded. 'In debt to Women. He can't repay the one he robbed.'

Jean winced at that. The young do not know that nothing but money can
ever be paid back.

'Yes,' she insisted, out of the faith she still had in him, ready to be
his surety. 'Yes, he can. He will.'

The other shook her head. 'No, he can't repay the dead. But there are
the living. There are the thousands with hope still in their hearts a