gliness of life
be turned into colour and beauty for one traveller, while the other
might not even take to herself a crumb of life's feast without reproach
and misgiving? A moment before she had craved for Jean's sympathy; now
she felt cold, and hard, and resentful, unwilling to accept such
sympathy if it were offered. Jean was too happy to understand. She was
one of fortune's favourites, for whom life had always been smooth and
easy. How could she realise the hunger of one who had stood continually
outside the feast? Of what use were sweet words if understanding were
lacking? Her voice when she spoke again sounded chill and aloof:

"You need not enlarge. Piers and I realise too well that our lot is
different from other happy lovers, but we have both known what it is to
feel lonely and sad, and we believe that we shall find consolation in
each other's love. We mean to try, at least. Our minds are firmly made
up on that point, whatever our friends may think. If you wish to cast
me off, Jean--I shall be sorry--but, I tell you frankly, it will make no
difference."

"Vanna, _don't_! Don't be so bitter; don't speak to me in that voice; I
can't bear it," cried Jean with gasping breath. The sound of her voice
brought Vanna's eyes upon her in startled inquiry, and at the sight of
her face resentment vanished, in a spasm of love and fear. So white she
looked, so spent, so pitifully frail and broken. Jean was ill: this was
no moment to trouble her with exhausting mental problems. Vanna felt a
swift pang of penitence at the thought that she who had arrived in the
character of nurse and consoler had already contrived to bring about a
crisis of weakness.

In a trice her arms were supporting the lovely head, her lips pressed to
the white cheek, her lips cooing out tenderest reassurements.

"There, darling, there! I was a brute, a mean, bitter, grudging brute.
Forgive me, and we'll never quarrel again. I know it, Jean! All you
have said, and _morel_ I did make a stand; I refused to listen, but I
love him so; I'm so hungry for happiness--I couldn't stand out!
Whatever comes, whatever happens in the future, we shall have _some_
time together. Think how you would feel in my place, and you'll
understand. You and Robert mean so much to us both, you _must_ wish us
well."

Jean cried, and clung to Vanna's hands with feverish protests of love
and fealty; but she allowed herself to be soothed and petted and waited
upo