u. If I hadn't come back just when I did, you would have
married him."

She knelt beside Nan with lifted face. There were tears in her eyes.

"Don't you see--don't you understand--that that is the only way I can be
happy? I'm not saying this for your sake--and only half for Tom's. It's
the old selfish me that is asking it," she ended, smiling once more,
though with brimming eyes.

Nan turned her head.

"I can never do it! It's not fair for you to speak to me of him."

"Oh, don't I know that! But I never in my life played fair! I want you
to promise me that you won't say no to him! He is started on the way up
and on once more: I want you to help him gain the top. He needs you just
as Phil does! You have already been to him what I never could have been.
It is all so easy and so plain! And in no other way can I be right with
myself. I shall never trouble you by coming back! Phil can come to me
sometimes--I'm sure you will not mind that! And I shall find peace that
way! For Phil's sake you and Tom must marry!"

"Phil loves you so," said Nan; "you have no right to leave her; you
don't know what you mean to her!"

"I'm only a pretty picture in a book! She's too keen; she'd see through
me very soon. No! It must be my way," she said, with a little triumphant
note. She rose and turned to pick up her parasol.

Nan watched her wonderingly, for an instant dumb before the plea of this
woman, so unlooked-for, so amazing in every aspect. Lois touched her
handkerchief to her eyes and thrust it into her sleeve.

"Now that's all over!" she said, smiling.

"No; it can't be over that way," returned Nan, quite herself again. "For
a day I thought I could do it, but I'm grateful that you came back, for
your coming made me see what a mistake it would have been. There's no
question of his needing me. If I helped him a little to find himself, I
shall always be glad, but he has tasted success now, and he will not
drop back. And as for Phil, it is absurd to pretend that she needs any
one. The days of her needs are passed, and she is at the threshold of
happy womanhood. I am glad you came when you did, for I see now how near
I was to losing some of my old ideals that would have made the rest of
my life one long regret."

"Those scruples are like you--like what I know to be true of you; but
you are wrong. I believe that in a little while you will see that you
are."

"No," continued Nan; "I know they are not wrong. I am ashamed of mysel