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continued so happy in my married life。〃
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〃But I don't want to marry any one；〃 Helen remonstrated gently。
〃American girls are not always thinking only of getting married。〃
〃What I meant was this；〃 said Lady Gower； 〃that； in my experience； I
have heard of but few men who care in the way this young man seems to
care for you。 You say you do not love him； but if he had wanted to gain
my interest； he could not have pleaded his cause better than you have done。
He seems to see your faults and yet love you still； in spite of themor on
account of them。 And I like the things he does for you。 I like； for
instance； his sending you the book of the moment every week for two
years。 That shows a most unswerving spirit of devotion。 And the story
of the broken bridge in the woods is a wonderful story。 If I were a young
girl； I could love a man for that alone。 It was a beautiful thing to do。〃
Helen sat with her chin on her hands； deeply considering this new
point of view。
〃I thought it very foolish of him；〃 she confessed questioningly； 〃to take
such a risk for such a little thing。〃
Lady Gower smiled down at her from the height of her many years。
〃Wait；〃 she said dryly； 〃you are very young nowand very rich； every
one is crowding to give you pleasure； to show his admiration。 You are a
very fortunate girl。 But later； these things which some man has done
because he loved you； and which you call foolish； will grow large in your
life； and shine out strongly； and when you are discouraged and alone； you
will take them out； and the memory of them will make you proud and
happy。 They are the honors which women wear in secret。〃
Helen came back to town in September； and for the first few days was
so occupied in refurnishing her studio and in visiting the shops that she
neglected to send Carroll word of her return。 When she found that a
whole week had passed without her having made any effort to see him；
and appreciated how the fact would hurt her friend； she was filled with
remorse； and drove at once in great haste to Jermyn Street； to announce
her return in person。 On the way she decided that she would soften the
blow of her week of neglect by asking him to take her out to luncheon。
This privilege she had once or twice accorded him； and she felt that the
pleasure these excursions gave Carroll were worth the consternation they
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caused to Lady Gower。
The servant was uncertain whether Mr。 Carroll was at home or not； but
Helen was too intent upon making restitution to wait for the fact to be
determined； and； running up the stairs； knocked sharply at the door of his
study。
A voice bade her come in； and she entered； radiant and smiling her
welcome。 But Carroll was not there to receive it； and instead； Marion
Cavendish looked up at her from his desk where she was busily writing。
Helen paused with a surprised laugh； but Marion sprang up and hailed her
gladly。 They met half way across the room and kissed each other with
the most friendly feeling。
Philip was out； Marion said； and she had just stepped in for a moment
to write him a note。 If Helen would excuse her； she would finish it； as
she was late for rehearsal。
But she asked over her shoulder； with great interest； if Helen had
passed a pleasant summer。 She thought she had never seen her looking
so well。 Helen thought Miss Cavendish herself was looking very well
also； but Marion said no； that she was too sunburnt； she would not be able
to wear a dinner…dress for a month。 There was a pause while Marion's
quill scratched violently across Carroll's note…paper。 Helen felt that in
some way she was being treated as an intruder； or worse； as a guest。 She
did not sit down； it seemed impossible to do so； but she moved uncertainly
about the room。 She noted that there were many changes； it seemed
more bare and empty； her picture was still on the writing…desk； but there
were at least six new photographs of Marion。 Marion herself had
brought them to the room that morning； and had carefully arranged them
in conspicuous places。 But Helen could not know that。 She thought
there was an unnecessary amount of writing scribbled over the face of
each。
Marion addressed her letter and wrote 〃Immediate〃 across the
envelope； and placed it before the clock on the mantelshelf。 〃You will
find Philip looking very badly；〃 she said； as she pulled on her gloves。
〃He has been in town all summer； working very hardhe has had no
holiday at all。 I don't think he's well。 I have been a great deal worried
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about him；〃 she added。 Her face was bent over the buttons of her glove；
and when she raised her blue eyes to Helen they were filled with serious
concern。
〃Really；〃 Helen stammered； 〃II didn't knowin his letters he seemed
very cheerful。〃
Marion shook her head and turned and stood looking thoughtfully out
of the window。 〃He's in a very hard place；〃 she began abruptly； and then
stopped as though she had thought better of what she intended to say。
Helen tried to ask her to go on； but could not bring herself to do so。 She
wanted to get away。
〃I tell him he ought to leave London；〃 Marion began again； 〃he needs
a change and a rest。〃
〃I should think he might；〃 Helen agreed； 〃after three months of this
heat。 He wrote me he intended going to Herne Bay or over to Ostend。〃
〃Yes； he had meant to go；〃 Marion answered。 She spoke with the air
of one who possessed the most intimate knowledge of Carroll's
movements and plans； and change of plans。 〃But he couldn't；〃 she added。
〃He couldn't afford it。 Helen；〃 she said； turning to the other girl；
dramatically； 〃do you knowI believe that Philip is very poor。〃
Miss Cabot exclaimed incredulously； 〃Poor！〃 She laughed。 〃Why；
what do you mean？〃
〃I mean that he has no money；〃 Marion answered； sharply。 〃These
rooms represent nothing。 He only keeps them on because he paid for
them in advance。 He's been living on three shillings a day。 That's poor
for him。 He takes his meals at cabmen's shelters and at Lockhart's； and
he's been doing so for a month。〃
Helen recalled with a guilty thrill the receipt of certain boxes of La
France rosescut long； in the American fashionwhich had arrived within
the last month at various country houses。 She felt indignant at herself；
and miserable。 Her indignation was largely due to the recollection that
she had given these flowers to her hostess to decorate the dinner…table。
She hated to ask this girl of things which she should have known better
than any one else。 But she forced herself to do it。 She felt she must
know certainly and at once。
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〃How do you know this？〃 she asked。 〃Are you sure there is no
mistake？〃
〃He told me himself；〃 said Marion； 〃when he talked of letting the
plays go and returning to America。 He said he must go back； that his
money was gone。〃
〃He is gone to America！〃 Helen said； blankly。
〃No； he wanted to go； but I wouldn't let him；〃 Marion went on。 〃I
told him that some one might take his play any day。 And this third one
he has written； the one he finished this summer in town； is the best of all； I
think。 It's a love…story。