house was closed and deserted, but they found a cloistered
porch from which they could look out on the storm.

Below them the trees were whipped and bent by the gale. Against the
horizon the sea rose like a great gray wall. Straining their eyes, they
could catch a glimmer of the captain's yellow coat on the strip of sand.

"The worst of the wind is over," said Justin; "we were lucky to escape
the heavy rain."

Bettina, who was braiding her hair, looked up at him. "Wasn't it
wonderful down there in the wood?"

"Did you think it wonderful?"

Something in his eyes made her say, hastily "I've never been out in a
storm before."

He did not reply at once. He was watching her slender fingers twist the
shining strands.

"Let me do that for you," he said, suddenly.

"No, oh, no----"

"Why not?"

"Because." She walked away from him, and seated herself on a marble
bench under one of the closed windows.

He sat down beside her. "I didn't mean that impertinently; truly I did
not. I used to braid my little sister's hair. She was lame and I took
care of her, and, as I watched you, I thought of--my little sister."

"Tell me about her."

"There isn't much to tell, except that when I was a great hulking
youngster, with only her to love--she died----"

"Oh,--I'm so sorry----"

He went on slowly, still watching her busy fingers "Since then I have
never had a friend. Not the kind she was. Why, she used to love to
listen to my boy's talk--of how I was going to be great, of how I was
going to conquer the world,--and she has been dead ten years--and I have
done nothing."

It was a new Justin who spoke in this fashion. To Bettina he had always
seemed as light as air, and she had enjoyed his frivolity, but now she
felt something more than enjoyment,--a yearning to be of use to this
big boy who was all alone, and who missed his little sister.

Surely to be his friend need not interfere in any way with Anthony's
claims. She loved Anthony and was going to marry him, of course. But
friendship and love were different things. Why, Mrs. Martens was
married, and she had been Justin's friend in Germany.

She spoke her thought. "But Mrs. Martens?"

"She was a dear--but she is older than I--and I stood a bit in awe of
her--she sympathized with me--but she could not dream with me, and I
wanted some one to share my dreams."

Bettina's blue eyes were wistful. What a wonderful thing it would be to
share somebody's dreams. She was per