ard to save this. You did
it----"

"If I did, it's not _vital_ to you. It does not bring you rest. How
clearly I see that!"

Bedient turned aside from her tearful searching eyes. He was facing the
old battle; and yet a certain uplift came from her brave spirit. It was
one of the big intimate warmths of the world, one of the fine moments
of life in the world. Her giving was true. He could think of no other
who could have helped him in this way, save Vina Nettleton. These two
had not entered his mind together before. And they were unlike in every
way, except in their pure quality of giving.

"Please tell me that other matter now--why you were so good to me, even
on the steamer?"

"But I want you to rest."

"I would rest better----"

Miss Mallory looked up at him for a moment, and embarrassment came to
her face--different from any look of hers before.

"It was in New York.... I wore a white net waist and a big bunch of
English violets," she said, watching him. "It seems very long ago, but
it isn't--hardly ten weeks. There was darkness and _Hedda_ was telling
young _Loevborg_ to drink wine and get vine-leaves in his hair----"

"And you were the one?" Bedient said.

"'So fleet the works of men, back to their earth again,
Ancient and holy things fade like a dream,'"

she repeated.

"I remember."

"And do you remember the first scream?... If I were a lost and freezing
traveler in Siberia, the first cry of a gathering wolf-pack could not
have more terror for me than that scream. And, I can hear the snapping
of the chair-backs still, hideous secrets from human lips, and the
scraping, panting, packing. I was hurt in the first crazy rush. I
crushed the violets to my lips to keep out the smoke and gas.... Then
your voice, 'Now's the time for vine-leaves, fellows,--there's a woman
for everyone to help!' I heard you laugh and challenge the men to their
best manhood.... And all the time, I thought I was dying.... Then your
foot touched me, and I heard you say, 'Why, here's a little one left
for me----'"

"Your hair had come undone," he said softly.

"And you never looked under the violets----"

"I went back to look for you. I wasn't gone a minute, but you had
vanished."

"They took me away in the car--then I thought of the story and I didn't
see you again, until you brushed by me in the Dryden ticket office in
New York--the day before we sailed----"

"And you've been my good angel ever since----"

"