distaste men have for
calling things by their right names, and replied instead, "an
opportunity for usefulness."

His smile faded, and he turned on her eyes that were almost melancholy,
though the fire of animation still warmed them. "I am interested now. I
care a great deal--but will it last? Haven't I felt this way a hundred
times in the last six months, only to grow indifferent and even bored
within the next few hours?"

She looked at him closely. "Isn't there any feeling--any interest that
lasts with you?"

He hesitated, while a burning colour, like the flush of fever, swept up
to his forehead. "Only one, and I am trying to get over that," he
answered after a moment.

"If it is a genuine feeling, are you wise to get over it?" she asked.
"Genuine feeling is so rare. I think if I could feel an overwhelming
emotion, I should hug it to my heart as the most precious of gifts."

"Even if everything were against it?"

Her head went up with a dauntless gesture. "Oh, my dear, what is
everything?" It was a changed voice from the one in which she had
lectured Alice Rokeby an hour ago. "Feeling is everything."

"It is real," he replied, looking away from her eyes. "I am sure of that
because I have struggled against it. I can't explain what it is; I don't
know what it was that made me care in the beginning. All I know about it
is that it seems to give me back myself. It is only when I let myself go
in the thought of it that I become really free. Can you understand what
I mean?"

"I can," assented Corinna softly; and though she smiled there was a mist
over her eyes which made the world appear iridescent. "Oh, my dear, it
is the only way. Throw away everything else--every cause, every
conviction, every interest--but keep that one open door into reality."

The car stopped before his office, and she held out her hand. "I shall
see you to-morrow night?"

He glanced back merrily from the pavement. "Do you think I shall let you
escape me?" Then he turned away and went, with a firm and energetic
step, into the building, while Corinna took out her shopping list and
studied it thoughtfully.

"Back to the shop," she said at last. "I have had enough for one
morning." As the car started up the street, a smile stirred her lips, "I
shall have three unhappy lovers on my hands for the dance to-morrow."
Then she laughed softly, with a very real sense of humour, "If I am
going to sacrifice myself, I may as well do it in the grand ma