idge is very ill?" she
added.

"No. What is the trouble?"

"Pneumonia. He's a little better to-night."

She heard him utter: "That's terrible. That's a bad business." Then to
her: "Where is he?"

She told him. He said he'd call at the hospital. But he said nothing
about seeing her.

"I wondered," came her wistful voice, "whether, perhaps, you would
dine here alone with me this evening."

"Why do you ask me?"

"Because--I--our last quarrel was so bitter--and I feel the hurt of it
yet. It hurts even physically, Jim."

"I did not mean to do such a thing to you."

"No, I know you didn't. But that numb sort of pain is always there. I
can't seem to get rid of it, no matter what I do."

"Are you very busy still?"

"Yes.... I saw--Marya--to-day."

"Is that unusual?" he asked indifferently.

"Yes. I haven't seen her since--since she and Vanya separated."

"Oh! Have they separated?" he asked with such unfeigned surprise that
the girl's heart leaped wildly.

"Didn't you know it? Didn't Marya tell you?" she asked shivering with
happiness.

"I haven't seen her since I saw you," he replied.

Palla's right hand flew to her breast and rested there while she
strove to control her voice. Then:

"Please, Jim, let us forgive and break bread again together. I--" she
drew a deep, unsteady breath--"I can't tell you how our separation has
made me feel. I don't quite know what it's done to me, either. Perhaps
I can understand if I see you--if I could only see you again----"

There ensued a silence so protracted that a shaft of fear struck
through her. Then his voice, pleasantly collected:

"I'll be around in a few minutes."

* * * * *

She was scared speechless when the bell rang--when she heard his
unhurried step on the stair.

Before he was announced by the maid, however, she had understood one
problem in the scheme of things--realised it as she rose from the
lounge and held out her slender hand.

He took it and kept it. The maid retired.

"Well, Palla," he said.

"Well," she said, rather breathlessly, "--I know now."

His voice and face seemed amiable and lifeless; his eyes, too,
remained dull and incurious; but he said: "I don't think I understand.
What is it you know?"

"Shall I tell you?"

"If you wish."

His pleasant, listless manner chilled her; she hesitated, then turned
away, withdrawing her hand.

When she had seated herself on the sofa he dropped d