asions he contrived
to encounter Phillida returning from her Sunday afternoon mission to the
east, he thought he perceived certain traces of debate going on in her
mind, and an apparent effort on her part to hold the talk to cool and
indifferent topics. That she was strongly attracted to him he readily
believed, and had she been a woman of the ordinary type this would have
been sufficient. But she was Phillida Callender, and he who would win
her must gain consent not alone of her affections but of her conscience
as well, and of her judgment. Such a decision as he should ask her to
make would be tried by the test of the high life purpose that ruled her
and looked on all interfering delights and affections with something
like fierceness. For how shall one of the daughters of God be persuaded
to wed one of the sons of men?

And thus, by the procrastination that comes of lack of opportunity, and
the procrastination that comes of timidity, the spring was fast passing
into summer. Hilbrough had taken Millard into partnership in an
enterprise of his own--the reorganization of a bankrupt railway company
in the interest of the bondholders. It was necessary to secure the
co-operation of certain English holders of the securities, and Hilbrough
felt sure that a man of Millard's address and flexibility would achieve
more than he himself could in a negotiation abroad. So it was arranged
that on the first Saturday in June the assistant cashier should sail for
London on a ten weeks' leave of absence from the bank, and that when his
business in London should be completed he was to make a short tour over
the well-beaten paths of European travel. This arrangement rendered it
necessary that Millard should bring his diplomatic delays to an end, and
run the risk of an immediate proposal to Phillida Callender.

Memorial Day came round, and all the land showed its sorrow for the
innumerable host that perished untimely in deadly battle and deadlier
hospital by keeping the day right joyously. This gave Millard a holiday,
and he set off after a lazy breakfast to walk up Fifth Avenue and
through Central Park. He proposed to explore the Ramble and meditate all
the time how he might best come to an understanding with Phillida that
very evening.

He entered the Park at the southeast corner, but instead of pushing
straight up to the Mall, a childish impulse to take a hurried glance at
the animals deflected him toward the old armory. The holiday crow