y, and I'll rub your head."

"Sophie," said Diana, suddenly, "I wonder if I ever rubbed anybody's
head?"

"Of course," said Sophie; "what makes you say that?"

"Because I've been thinking a lot since I went to town, and it seems to
me that all my life I've just taken and have not given. I took Anthony's
love--I've taken your service----" She held out her hand. "Oh, I've been
a selfish pig, Sophie, darling."

Sophie took the extended hand and patted it. "What a silly thing to
say," soothingly; "you've always been everything--to me, Diana. You've
done so much for me that I can never repay."

"Oh, yes, in giving big things--but it's the little things that
count--like heating cups of milk and rubbing people's heads."

She said it whimsically, but there were tears in her eyes.

"You come right down and go to bed," Sophie advised. "And we can talk
all about it afterward."

Diana, propped up among her pillows, watched her friend as she flitted
like a gray moth about the room, intent on various comforting offices,
and when at last Sophie brought to her a steaming cup Diana said, "Do
you know, Sophie, I've always thought myself a rather superior person."

"Well, you are," Sophie agreed.

"I'm not. Oh, I've made up my mind about things at last, and I know that
it hasn't been Bettina's happiness, nor Anthony's happiness that I have
been thinking about, but my own.

"If I had not stayed on after I found out the state of things here," she
continued, "Anthony would have learned to care for Betty--every man
loves youth and beauty----"

Sophie shook her head. "It takes us women all of our lives to learn
that it is not for the red of our lips or the blue of our eyes that we
are loved----"

"Oh, but you know it is the beautiful women who draw men----"

"But it is not the beautiful women who hold them. I'll set any demure
little soul with a loving heart against all the faultlessly-regular
-splendidly-null persons in the world when it comes to keeping the
affections of a husband--and what has Bettina that she can give Anthony
to take the place of the things which he has loved in you?"

"She has youth."

"How you harp on that string! You have a mind and soul which meets
Anthony's. And your beauty equals hers. You must not forget that,
Diana."

"I don't forget it. I know what I mean to Anthony. But Bettina will mean
other things to him. And who shall say which of us would make the better
wife?

"Oh, I've thought these