ral years had then re-entered the world as a professional
philanthropist. Her name was now associated entirely with Women's
Leagues, with committees that presented petitions to Parliament, and
with public meetings, at which she spoke with marvellous ease and
effect. Her old friends said she had taken up this new pose as an outlet
for her nervous energies, and as an effort to forget the man who alone
had made life serious to her. Others knew her as an earnest woman,
acting honestly for what she thought was right. Her success, all
admitted, was due to her knowledge of the world and to her sense of
humor, which taught her with whom to use her wealth and position, and
when to demand what she wanted solely on the ground that the cause was
just.

She had taken more than a fancy for Helen, and the position of the
beautiful, motherless girl had appealed to her as one filled with
dangers. When she grew to know Helen better, she recognized that these
fears were quite unnecessary, and as she saw more of her she learned
to care for her deeply. Helen had told her much of Carroll and of his
double purpose in coming to London; of his brilliant work and his lack
of success in having it recognized; and of his great and loyal devotion
to her, and of his lack of success, not in having that recognized, but
in her own inability to return it. Helen was proud that she had been
able to make Carroll care for her as he did, and that there was anything
about her which could inspire a man whom she admired so much, to believe
in her so absolutely and for so long a time. But what convinced her that
the outcome for which he hoped was impossible, was the very fact that
she could admire him, and see how fine and unselfish his love for her
was, and yet remain untouched by it.

She had been telling Lady Gower one day of the care he had taken of her
ever since she was fourteen years of age, and had quoted some of the
friendly and loverlike acts he had performed in her service, until one
day they had both found out that his attitude of the elder brother was
no longer possible, and that he loved her in the old and only way. Lady
Gower looked at her rather doubtfully and smiled.

"I wish you would bring him to see me, Helen" she said; "I think I
should like your friend very much. From what you tell me of him I doubt
if you will find many such men waiting for you in this country. Our men
marry for reasons of property, or they love blindly, and are exacting