ght, conscious that Julia, in the next room,
was restless and wakeful.

Besides a certain troubled consciousness of her failure to please her
own people, Julia had in these years a more definite source of worry.
Mark Rosenthal was still her patient adorer, and if, like Julia, he
allowed the flying months to steal a march upon him, and drifted along
in the comfortable conviction that "a little while" would bring a change
in Julia's feeling, still he was none the less a watchful and ardent
lover, with whom she sometimes found it very difficult to deal.

Mark, always tall, was broad as well now, an imposing big fellow,
prosperous, shrewd, and self-confident. He had handsome dark eyes, and
showed white teeth when he laughed; he dressed well, but not
conspicuously; his shoes might be well worn, but they were always
bright; and if his suit were shabby, still he was never without gloves.
He liked to talk business; he had long ago given up his music and
devoted himself with marvellous success to his work. He was no longer
with the piano house, but had an excellent position as adjuster of
damages, out of court, for one of the street railway companies. The
history of his various promotions and his favour with his employers was
absorbing to him; but the time came, when Julia was about twenty-two,
when his determination to win her became a serious menace to her peace.

His manner, which had once been boyish and uncertain, was in these days
good-humouredly proprietary. He laughed at little Julia's earnest
explanations, and would answer her most eager appeal only with a lover's
fond comment upon her eyes.

"Yes, darling, I wasn't listening--forgive me!" he said one day, when,
with a spark of real anger, Julia had begged him to make his calls at
the settlement house a little less frequent and less conspicuous. "What
was it?" And with twinkling eyes he caught up the hand that lay near him
on the table and kissed it.

"I want you not to do that, Mark," said Julia gravely, moving a little
farther away, "and please don't call me darling!"

"All right, darling!" smiled Mark.

"I'm not joking," Julia said resentfully, two red spots in her cheeks.

Mark moved to lay his hand over hers penitently, and said, in the low,
gentle voice Julia dreaded:

"Do you know what's the matter with you, Julie? I'll tell you. You love
me and you won't admit it. Girls never will. But that's what makes you
so unhappy--you won't let yourself go. Ah, Ju