rowned. Something lay back of that care-traced line on Joyce's
forehead. Something lay back of her questioning--what was it? And Jude's
assumption of the male superiority over his young wife disturbed Gaston.
He had not noticed it so sharply before.

Presently Joyce took the low stool, and clasped her knees in her
enfolding arms. The two men had filled their pipes, and now, through the
dim haze, looked at the fair, dreamy face between them. Then Jude laid
his pipe aside--and snored. The clock ticked softly. The logs fell apart
in a red glow. In drawing away from the flying sparks, Joyce placed her
stool nearer Gaston, and the pretty bent head came within easy distance
of the hand lying inert on the chair arm.

"Jude gets awfully sleepy in the heat," Joyce whispered; "you don't
mind?"

"No, why should I? But I ought to be going. You are tired, too?"

"No." The sudden upward glance was all a-quiver with alertness. "I don't
ever seem tired now. Keeping one's own house--is great! and it seems
like everything is waking up every minute. Sometimes I hate to go to
sleep for fear I'll miss something."

And now Gaston's hand touched the heavy curves of pale, gold hair.

"You have made a _home_," he said; "I wonder if you know what a great
achievement that is? I wonder if Jude knows?"

Joyce winced.

"Oh! if he's a bit cross with me," she whispered softly, "don't you
mind. He thinks that's the way, you know. _I_ understand."

"I suppose you do," Gaston smoothed the silken hair, "but make _him_
understand, Joyce. It takes understanding on both sides, you know."

"And, Mr. Gaston"--the girl changed the subject as adroitly as a more
worldly wise woman might have done--"you helped me make this home. I
ain't _ever_ going to let you forget that. These pictures," her loving
glance took them all in, "and the books coming and going just fast
enough to keep me nimble. It seems like you'd opened a gate and let some
of the big world in."

"There's plenty of it on the other side of the two Solitudes, Joyce."
Gaston's hand fell gently along the warm throat and rested on the bent
shoulder.

Jude gave another gurgling snore. The two did not change their
positions, but there was silence for an instant.

"That mountain-top, all jagged and high--my! how it just makes me want
to climb; climb through my work all day long; climb to getting somewhere
out beyond. And that great empty picture with the awful white wave
coming from nowhere--