of
the way in which his brother and sisters were scattered from North to
South, and how he came to set his face Eastward while all the others
went West.

"How handsome he is," thought Helen.

"How beautiful you are," his glances said in answer, and both grew
young beneath the touch of love.

When they were once more in the hotel Helen cried out:

"There! Isn't your brain washed clear of all doubts? Come, let's to work
at the play."

He looked down at her with eyes whose glow made her eyelids fall in
maidenly defence. "I am capable of anything you ask," he said, with
quiet power.

After a long and spirited discussion of the last act she said: "Well,
now, we'll put it in rehearsal as soon as you feel that it is ready. I
believe in doing a part while the spell of its newness is on me. I shall
put this on in place of the revival of _Rachel Endicott_." She rose on
the wave of her enthusiasm. "I feel the part taking hold of me. I will
make _Lillian's Duty_ the greatest success of my life, and the lion's
share of both honor and money shall be yours."

He left the hotel quite as exalted as he had been previously depressed.
The pleasure of sitting by her side for four blessed hours enriched him
to the point of being sorry for all the rest of the world. The Prince of
Wales had been denied an introduction to her, he had read; therefore the
Prince was poor.

IV

The reading of the play took place on the Monday morning following, and
was an exceedingly formal and dignified function. The principal players
came prepared to be politely interested, while some of the lesser minds
were actually curious to taste the quality of the play as a piece of
writing.

As there was no greenroom in the Westervelt, the reading took place on
the open stage, which was bleak and draughty. The company sat in a
funereal semicircle, with the author, the star, and the manager in a
short line facing them. All the men retained their overcoats, for the
morning was miserably raw, and at Helen's positive command kept their
heads covered; and the supernumerary women sat shivering in their
jackets. Helen was regal in a splendid cloak of sable, otherwise there
was little of the successful actress in her dress. At her suggestion a
box-scene was set around them to keep off at least a part of the
draught, and under these depressing conditions the reading proceeded.

Douglass was visibly disheartened by the surroundings, but set manfully
to work