ested in another woman. She
pretended to take no notice of the change in his manner or to observe
the fact that they were never alone together. With infinite patience
she studied his whims and watched for the rival she was sure had
crossed his life. From the first she had suspected Harriet Woodman, and
had inevitably linked her coming with Stuart's change of feeling. He
had never referred to the Woodmans once since the day of the
financier's collapse. This was, of course, natural, and she grew each
day more certain that the influence of this quiet demure girl was the
secret of the hostile influence that had come between them.

With the liberal use of money she made the acquaintance of a member of
the chorus of the grand opera company who agreed to report to her every
movement in Harriet's life.

At the beginning of the season the usual quarrelling of the stars gave
to the young singer the opportunity of her life, and Nan's friend
reported that the little golden-haired understudy was suddenly booked
to sing the leading role in Faust on account of the illness of the
star.

"Of course, the cat's not ill at all," the chorus lady volunteered to
inform Nan over the telephone. "She's only pretending, to bring the
manager to his knees. He's called her bluff and the little one's going
on in her part, and she's in the seventh heaven of delight."

"Will she succeed?" Nan broke in, eagerly.

"What? as _Marguerite_ in Faust, that poor little kid? She will--nit!
I'm sorry for her. She'll need a friend to take her home to-night. It's
a dog mean trick of the manager to make a monkey of her. She's a good
little thing; everybody likes her."

"All right, that will do, thank you," Nan interrupted shortly, as she
hung up the receiver.

She was not surprised when Stuart accepted her invitation to spend the
evening in her box at the opera--the first time he had allowed himself
to be alone with her since their return from the cruise.

"Yes, Nan," he answered quickly, "I'll go with pleasure. A little
friend of mine is to sing a great role to-night. I'm so glad you're
going. I want you to hear her and help me applaud."

Now she knew it! For the first time in her life she began to realize
what Stuart meant to her; what his refusal to love another woman had
meant. For the first time she knew that she had built the foundations
of her happiness on the certainty that he could never love another
woman and that he would die her devoted, if u