s, after Helen
had returned them to his desk. She never mentioned the matter to him,
nor did he speak of it to her; but his hero had to forego that
particular thrill, and it was a long time before Ronald himself heard
again the words Helen had deleted.

He heard them now, however--murmured very softly; and he caught her to
him with sudden passion, kissing her hair.

Yet he meant to go. _In hoc vince_. He must conquer his very need of
her, if it came between him and the best thing he had yet done in his
work.

He could not face the thought of the parting; but there was no need to
face that as yet. A whole fortnight intervened. It is useless to suffer
a pang until the pang is actually upon you. Besides, every
experience--however hard to bear--is of value. How much more harrowing
and vivid would be his next description of a parting----

Then, suddenly, Ronald felt ashamed. His arms dropped from around her.
He knew himself unworthy--in a momentary flash of self-revelation he
knew himself utterly unworthy--of Helen's generous love, and noble
womanhood.

"My wife," he said, "I won't go. It isn't worth it."

Her arms strained around him, and he heard her sob; and, alas--it was
the sob of the woman in the long grass, when she clung to the man who
had crawled out first. His plot stood out to him once more as the
supreme thing.

"At least," he added, "it wouldn't be worth it, if it costs you so much.
It _is_ my strongest plot, but I will give it up if you would rather I
stayed at home."

Then Helen loosed her detaining arms, and lifting a brave white face,
smiled at him through her tears.

"No, Ronnie," she said. "I promised, when we married, always to help you
with your work and to make it easy. I am not going to fail you now. If
the new book requires a parting, we will face it bravely. At the present
moment we both need luncheon, and I must get out of my habit. Ring, and
tell them we shall not be ready for a quarter of an hour, there's a dear
boy! And think of something really funny to tell me at lunch.
Afterwards we will discuss plans."

She had reached the door when Ronald suddenly called after her: "Helen!
Hadn't you something to tell me, too?"

She turned in the doorway. Her face was gay with smiles.

"Oh, mine must wait," she said. "Your new plot, and the wonderful
journey it involves, require our undivided attention."

The sun shone very brightly just then. It touched the halo of Helen's
soft hair, turni