oper advantages and influences." With the
words he bowed a little sarcastically to Mrs. Tresham's husband, and
afterward spoke no more to him. And then there came to the foolish
young man that sudden chill and foreboding which a despised
opportunity leaves behind it.

But whether we do wisely or foolishly, the business of life must be
carried on. They were at the point of landing, and for some days the
strange experiences of their new life occupied every moment and every
feeling. Then came a long spell of hot weather, such heat as Denasia
had never dreamed of. Roland, who had been in Southern Europe, could
endure it better; as for Denasia, she lay prostrate with but one idea
in her heart--the cool coverts of the Cornish undercliff and the
trinkling springs where the blue-bells and the forget-me-nots grew so
thickly.

Yet it was necessary that something should be done, and through the
blazing heat, day after day, the poor girl was dragged to agencies and
managers. But she found no one to make her such an offer as the one so
foolishly declined. And the time wore on, and the money in their purse
grew less and less, and a kind of desperation made both silent and
irritable. Finally an engagement to go "on the road" was secured, and
Roland affected to be delighted with it. "We shall see the whole
country," he said, "and we can keep our eyes open for something
better."

Denasia sighed. Disappointment and a sense of wrong and grievous
mistake filled her heart and sat upon her face. She submitted as to an
irreparable injury, and left New York without the least enthusiasm.
"Good fortune knocked at our door," she said, "and we had not
intelligence enough to let him in." This was all the reproach she
gave her husband, and as she said "we" he accepted her generous
self-accusation, and finally convinced himself that it was entirely
Denasia's fault that the offer was refused. "But then I do not
blame you, Denasia," he remarked magnanimously; "you had every right
to consider yourself worthy of a larger salary."

They left New York in September and went slowly West. Denasia had a
fine physique, but it was not a physique trained to the special labour
it had to endure: long days in hot railway cars; hurry and worry at
every performance; no seclusion, no time for study; no time to
acknowledge headache or weariness; a score of little humiliations and
wrongs; a constant irritability at Roland's apparent indifference to
her wretchedness