rest. And he put an envelope into my hand and
asked me, with his funny smile, to accept it for an old friend's sake. He
disappeared mysteriously directly after. And--and--Molly, it was a cheque
for a thousand pounds."

"Good gracious!" said Molly, sharply.

"Wasn't it simply amazing?" Phyllis continued. "It nearly took my breath
away. And then Lady Caryl arrived, and I showed it to her. And she said
that the story of his ruin was false, that she thought he himself had
invented it for a special reason that had ceased to exist. And she said
that she thought he was richer now than he had ever been before. Why,
Molly, Molly--what has happened? What is it?"

Molly had suddenly sprung upright in bed. The moonlight was shining on
her beautiful face, and she was smiling tremulously, while her eyes
were wet with tears.

She reached out both her arms with a gesture that was full of an infinite
tenderness.

"Yes," she said, "yes, I see." And her glad voice rang and quivered on
that note which Love alone can strike. "It's true, darling. It's true.
He is richer now than he ever was before, and I--I have found endless
riches too. For I love him--I love him--I love him! And--he knows it!"

"Molly!" exclaimed her sister in amazement.

Molly did not turn. She was staring into the moonlight with eyes that
saw.

"And nothing else counts in all the world," she said. "He knows that too,
as we all know it--we all know it--at the bottom of our hearts."

And with that she laughed--the soft, sweet laugh of Love triumphant--and
lay back again by her sister's side.

* * * * *

Her Freedom

"We have been requested to announce that the marriage arranged between
Viscount Merrivale and Miss Hilary St. Orme will not take place."

Viscount Merrivale was eating his breakfast when he chanced upon this
announcement. He was late that morning, and, contrary to custom, was
skimming through the paper at the same time. But the paragraph brought
both occupations to an abrupt standstill. He stared at the sheet for a
few moments as if he thought it was bewitched. His brown face reddened,
and he looked as if he were about to say something. Then he pushed the
paper aside with a contemptuous movement and drank his coffee.

His servant, appearing in answer to the bell a few minutes later, looked
at him with furtive curiosity. He had already seen the announcement,
being in