d, "and whether
you would or would not have known me is 'one of those things that no
fellow can find out,' and isn't of supreme importance anyway. We each
know who the other is now, at all events."

"Yes," said John, "I am happy to think that we have come to a conclusion
on that point. But how does it happen that I have heard nothing of you
all these years, or you of me, as I suppose?"

"For the reason, I fancy," she replied, "that during that period of
short frocks with me my sister married Mr. Carling and took me with her
to Chicago, where Mr. Carling was in business. We have been back in New
York only for the last two or three years."

"It might have been on the cards that I should come across you in
Europe," said John. "The beaten track is not very broad. How long have
you been over?"

"Only about six months," she replied. "We have been at one or another of
the German Spas most of the time, as we went abroad for Mr. Carling's
health, and we are on our way home on about such an impulse as that
which started us off--he thinks now that he will be better off there."

"I am afraid you have not derived much pleasure from your European
experiences," said John.

"Pleasure!" she exclaimed. "If ever you saw a young woman who was glad
and thankful to turn her face toward home, _I_ am that person. I think
that one of the heaviest crosses humanity has to bear is to have
constantly to decide between two or more absolutely trivial conclusions
in one's own affairs; but when one is called upon to multiply one's
useless perplexities by, say, ten, life is really a burden.

"I suppose," she added after a pause, "you couldn't help hearing our
discussions at dinner the other night, and I have wondered a little what
you must have thought."

"Yes," he said, "I did hear it. Is it the regular thing, if I may ask?"

"Oh, yes," she replied, with a tone of sadness; "it has grown to be."

"It must be very trying at times," John remarked.

"It is, indeed," she said, "and would often be unendurable to me if it
were not for my sense of humor, as it would be to my sister if it were
not for her love, for Julius is really a very lovable man, and I, too,
am very fond of him. But I must laugh sometimes, though my better nature
should rather, I suppose, impel me to sighs.'"

"'A little laughter is much more worth,'" he quoted.

CHAPTER IV.

They were leaning upon the rail at the stern of the ship, which was
going with what little