h less of him than she wished, for Hugh remained coldly
unresponsive in his presence, and threw over their meetings a restraint
which prevented the joyous companionship of their first
acquaintanceship.

More than this, Helen was conscious of being watched and commented upon,
not merely by Hugh and Westervelt, but by guests of the hotel and
representatives of the society press. Douglass, in order to shield her,
and also because his position in the world was less secure than ever,
returned to his self-absorbed, impersonal manner of speech. He took no
part in the rehearsals, except to rush in at the close with some changes
which he wished embodied at once, regardless of the vexation and
confusion resulting. His brain was still perilously active, and not only
cut and refined the dialogue, but made most radical modifications of the
"business."

Helen began to show the effects of the strain upon her; for she was not
merely carrying the burden of _Lillian's Duty_, and directing rehearsals
of the new piece--she was deeply involved in the greatest problem than
can come to a woman. She loved Douglass; but did she love him strongly
enough to warrant her in saying so--when he should ask her?

His present poverty she put aside as of no serious account. A man so
physically powerful, so mentally alert, was rich in possibilities. The
work which he had already done entitled him to rank above millionaires,
but that his very forcefulness, his strong will, his dominating idealism
would make him her master--would inevitably change her relation to the
world--had already changed it, in fact--she was not ready to
acknowledge.

Up to this time her love for the stage had been single-minded. No man
had touched her heart with sufficient fire to disturb her serenity, but
now she was not merely following where he led, she was questioning the
value and morality of her avocation.

"If I cannot play high roles, if the public will not have me in work
like this I am now rehearsing, then I will retire to private life. I
will no longer be a plaything for the man-headed monster," she said one
day.

"You should have retired before sinking your good money in these
Douglass plays," Hugh bitterly rejoined. "It looks now as though we
might end in the police station."

"I have no fear of that, Hugh; I am perfectly certain that _Enid_ is to
regain all our losses."

"I wish I had your beautiful faith," he made answer, and walked away.

Westervelt said l