stretched out her hand impulsively and laid it on his arm.

"Owen, you're too good to me. I know so well that we belong to different
worlds, but ... if you mean that----"

"Of course I mean it." He rose as he spoke and patted her shoulder.
"Don't be a little silly--and now run away and write to your cousin at
once. If she can't come to-morrow, suggest Friday."

"Oh, she couldn't come then," returned Toni naively. "You see the shop
closes on Thursday afternoon, and it's Fanny's only free day."

"I see." Somehow the little explanation, with its picture of a different
life from that to which he was accustomed, struck a chill to Owen's
heart; but he hid his discomfort cleverly and bade Toni write her letter
without delay.

* * * * *

Miss Gibbs accepted the invitation joyfully; and on Thursday morning
Owen went off to town, after bidding Toni keep her cousin to dinner if
possible.

"She can take the nine-fifteen to town," he said. "I have the car, but
if she can stay, telephone for a taxi from the station to be here at
nine. You won't be lonely, Toni?"

"Not a bit!" Indeed she was thrilling with pleasure at the idea of
entertaining her cousin in her new home. "I've lots to see to. What a
pity Mrs. Blades is ill to-day."

"Yes, her usual bronchitis, I suppose. She'll be all right in a day or
two." Owen was hunting for a paper as he spoke. "Confound it, where is
that manuscript, Toni? You know the one--that article on Alfred Noyes."

"It's here." Toni handed him the paper he required.

"Thanks awfully. You're a first-rate little secretary, Toni! I guess we
shall miss you at the office!"

He did not observe the rather wistful look which swept over her face at
the half-careless praise. At that moment Toni felt she would have asked
nothing better than to jump into the car and journey up to town with
Owen to take her old place behind the typewriter in Owen's room. She
hated to see him leaving her, longed to beg him to stay; but something
stronger than personal longing held her back. A wife, she told herself,
must be a help, not a hindrance; and since Owen saw fit to leave her, to
carry on the work in which she had now no place, her duty, plainly, was
to remain at home and keep everything in her little world in order for
his return.

Besides, it was a glorious day, the sun was shining, the flowers dancing
in the breeze; and Fanny would be with her during the afternoon. It was
a day cr