descending the stairs. Looking
up uncertainly, she staggered back a little and leaned against the
wall.

"Bella!" he cried joyfully, and again, "Bella, darling!" and ran down
the steps.

She gave a maudlin giggle. "Warren! Warren! Such s'prise! S' glad t'
see you!" she muttered thickly and, lurching toward him, would have
fallen had he not caught her.

"Bella! What is the matter?" he exclaimed in anxious tones, and then,
in a moment, sudden disgust ringing in his voice: "Bella, you're
drunk! My God! And I meant to marry you next month! Motoring with a
man and coming home drunk! Good-bye, Miss Marne! It's lucky I
discovered my mistake in time!"

He snatched his hat from the rack and slammed the door behind him; and
she, as understanding of what had happened dawned upon her, fell
forward upon the banister with a long, agonized cry.

Mrs. Marne, lying down to rest in smiling happiness, with her heart
full of pleasure as she thought of her dear one's surprise and joy,
heard that shriek and hurried in alarm to the head of the stairs.
"Bella!" she called. "What is the matter? Where is Warren?"

Isabella, suddenly sobered, lifted a white, drawn face: "Oh, mother,
he's gone! He's left me! Oh, mother, mother! It's all over!"

She turned with sudden resolution and fled toward the dining room, so
absorbed in her own wild misery that she heard and saw nothing as her
mother cried out, swayed to and fro, and then toppled to the floor.

CHAPTER XIX

"AND YOU COULD DO THIS, FELIX BRAND!"

The June afternoon was glowing with sunshine and all the world was
clothed in the sumptuous beauty of spring at its highest tide.
Henrietta Marne looked about her as she walked slowly up the street
toward her home with a heart more at ease than she had known for many
weeks. For she had that day secured a position at a salary equal to
that she was receiving from Felix Brand and was to begin work in it as
soon as the time should expire for which she had already given him
notice.

"Difficulties always disappear as soon as you tackle them in real
earnest," she was saying to herself as she smiled in pleasure of the
green world all about her and of the satisfaction that glowed in her
own breast. "Everything is coming out all right. When Hugh Gordon
comes back he'll be pleased to find that I've acted on his advice. I'm
sorry, awfully sorry, about Mr. Brand--it was so delightful working
for him at first, and for a long time--but if he