ng where they seemed to sit suspended in limitless
emptiness above the lake and the mountains flattened by the moonlight.
Later, under very different circumstances, he was to recall that idea of
helpless suspension. She caught it, too, evidently, and gave it a
different interpretation. It was as if, engrossed by her own problems,
she had for the moment forgotten him.

"This place is so high! It gives you a feeling of freedom."

He knew very well what was in her mind.

"I'm glad you can feel free. I'm glad with all my heart you are free
again."

Caught by her sensations she didn't answer at once. He studied her
during that brief period when she was, in a fashion, helpless before his
eager eyes. Abruptly she faced him, as if the sense of his words had
been delayed in reaching her, or, as if, perhaps, his frank regard had
drawn her around, a little startled.

"I shall not quarrel with you to-night," she said.

"Good! Then you must let me tell you that while I'm sorry as I can be
for poor old Blodgett, I'm inexpressibly glad for you and for this
particular object of your charity."

"It does not concern you," she said.

"Enormously. I wonder if you would answer one or two questions quite
truthfully."

She stirred uneasily, seemed about to rise, then evidently thought
better of it. The orchestra resumed its labours. Many figures near by
gravitated toward the ballroom, leaving them, indeed, in something very
near seclusion. And she stayed to hear his questions, but she begged him
not to ask them.

"You and Lambert are friends. What you are both doing makes me want to
think of that, makes me want to make concessions, but don't
misunderstand, don't force me to quarrel with you until after this is
over."

He paid no attention to her.

"I suppose the war made you realize I was right about Blodgett?"

"You cannot talk about that."

"Has the war shown you I was right about myself?" he went on.

"Are you going to make my good resolutions impossible?" she asked.

Over his shoulder George saw the men in khaki guiding pretty girls about
the dance floor. The place was full of a heady concentration of pleasure
that had a beautiful as well as a pitiful side. About him the atmosphere
was frankly amorous, compounded of multiple desires of heart and mind
which strained for fulfilment before it should be too late. For him
Sylvia was a part of it--the greater part. It entered his senses as the
delightful and faint perfume w