what a useless, drifting life I have led. But that's foolish. Come now!
What I want to persuade you to do is to go back to Cumberland for a
time, and try hard--very hard indeed--to realize what it means to be a
woman like Louise, with her temperament, her intense intellectual
curiosity, her charm. Nothing could make Louise different from what she
is--a dear, sweet woman and a great artist. And, John, I believe she
loves you!"

His face remained undisturbed even by the flicker of an eyelid.

"Sophy," he said, "I have decided to go abroad. Will you come with me?"

She sat quite still. Again her face was momentarily transformed. All its
pallor and fatigue seemed to have vanished. Her head had fallen a little
back. She was looking through the ceiling into heaven. Then the light
died away almost as quickly as it had come. Her lips shook tremulously.

"You know you don't mean it, John! You wouldn't take me. And if you did,
you'd hate me afterward--you'd want to send me back!"

He suddenly drew her to him, his arm went around her waist. She had lost
all power of resistance. For the first time in his life of his own
deliberate accord, he kissed her--feverishly, almost roughly.

"Sophy," he declared, "I have been a fool! I have come an awful cropper,
but you might help me with what's left. I am going to start afresh. I am
going to get rid of some of these ideas of mine which have brought me
nothing but misery and disappointment. I don't want to live up to them
any longer. I want to just forget them. I want to live as other men
live--just the simple, ordinary life. Come with me! I'll take you to the
places we've talked about together. I am always happy and contented with
you. Let's try it!"

Her arms stole around his neck.

"If only you cared, John!" she sobbed.

"But I do," he insisted. "I love to have you with me, I love to see you
happy, I shall love to give you pretty things. I shall be proud of you,
soothed by you--and rested. What do you say, Sophy?"

"John," she whispered, hiding her face for a moment. "What can I say?
What could any poor, weak, little creature like me say? You know I am
fond of you--I haven't had the pride, even, to conceal it!"

He stood up, held her face for a moment between his hands, and kissed
her forehead.

"Then that's all settled," he declared. "I am going back to my rooms
now. I want you to come and dine with me there to-night, at eight
o'clock."

Her eyes sought his, pleaded with