o end this way. I'm
disappointed, that's all."

He paused after opening the door, hoping to be called back, but Harwood
had walked to the window and stood with his hands in his pockets staring
into the street.

CHAPTER XXIX

A SONG AND A FALLING STAR

This was on Friday, and Harwood took the afternoon train for Waupegan.
He had found that when he was tired or lonely or troubled he craved the
sight of Sylvia. Sylvia alone could restore his equanimity; Sylvia who
worked hard but never complained of weariness; Sylvia who saw life
steadily and saw it whole, where he caught only fitful, distorted
glimpses. Yes; he must see Sylvia. Not only must he see her but there
were things he meant to say to her.

He needed Sylvia. For several months he had been sure of that. He loved
her and he meant to marry her. Since leaving college he had indulged in
several more or less ardent flirtations, but they had ended harmlessly;
it was very different with Sylvia! He had realized all that spring that
she was becoming increasingly necessary to him; he needed her solace and
her inspiration. He thrust one or two new books on the prevailing social
unrest into his suit case and added a box of candy, smiling at the
combination. Sylvia with all her ideals was still so beautifully human.
She was quite capable of nibbling bon-bons to the accompaniment of a
vivacious discussion of the sorrows of the world--he had seen her do
just that! With her ideals of life and service, she would not be easily
won; but he was in the race to win. Yes, there were things he meant to
say to Sylvia, and in the tedious journey through the hot afternoon to
Waupegan he formulated them and visualized the situations in which he
should utter them.

Dan reached Waupegan at six o'clock and went to one of the little inns
at the lakeside near the village. He got into his flannels, ate supper,
and set off for Mrs. Owen's with his offerings on the seven o'clock
boat. In the old days of his intimacy with Bassett he had often visited
Waupegan, and the breach between them introduced an element of
embarrassment into his visit. He was very likely to meet his former
chief, who barely bowed to him now when they met in hotels or in the
streets of the capital.

Jumping aboard the steamer just as it was pulling out, he at once saw
Bassett sitting alone in the bow. There were only a few other
passengers, and hearing Dan's step on the deck behind him, Bassett
turned slightly,