ecoming more herself. This was a game she was used to playing.
Of old times, indeed! It seemed only yesterday that these two brothers,
who had the reputation in those days of being the richest young men
in New York, were both at her feet. So far, she had scarcely been
fortunate. There was still a chance, however. She looked up. It seemed
to her that he was losing his composure. Yes, there was something of the
old gleam in his eyes! Once he had been madly enough in love with her.
It ought not to be impossible!

"Jerry," she said, "I have told you these things. It has been so very,
very painful for me. Won't you try now and be kind? Remember that I
am all alone and it is all very difficult for me. I have been looking
forward to your coming. I have thought so often of those times we spent
together in New York. Won't you be my friend again? Won't you help me
through these dark days?"

Her hand touched his. For a moment he snatched his away as though stung.
Then he caught her fingers in his and held them as though in a vice. She
smiled, the smile of conscious power. The flush of beauty was streaming
once more into her face. Poor fellow, he was still in love, then! The
fingers which had closed upon hers were burning. What a pity that he was
not a little more presentable!

"Yes," he muttered, "we must be friends, Elizabeth. Wenham had all the
luck at first. Perhaps it's going to be my turn now, eh?"

He bent towards her. She laughed into his face for a moment and then was
once more suddenly colorless, the smile frozen upon her lips. She began
to shiver.

"What is it?" he asked. "What is it, Elizabeth?"

"Nothing," she faltered, "only I wish--I do wish that you were not so
much like Wenham. Sometimes a trick of your voice, the way you hold your
head--it terrifies me!"

He laughed oddly.

"You must get used to that, Elizabeth," he declared. "I can't help
being like him, you know. We were great friends always until you came. I
wonder why you preferred Wenham."

"Don't ask me--please don't ask me that," she begged. "Really, I think
he happened to be there just at the moment I felt like making a clean
sweep of everything, of leaving New York and every one and starting life
again, and I thought Wenham meant it. I thought I should be able to keep
him from drinking and to help him start a new life altogether over here
or on the Continent."

"Poor little woman," he said, "you have been disappointed, I am afraid."

She sig