der came back each morning. She had loved once, with the sweet
single-heartedness of a girl, shaken with sweet and yielding joy of a
boyish face and a slim and graceful figure. What he had said she could
not remember; what he was, no longer counted; but what that love had
been to her mattered a great deal, for when he passed out of her life
the glow of his worship remained in her heart, enabling her to keep a
jealous mastery of her art and to remain untouched by the admiration of
those who sought her favor in every city she visited. Douglass was
amazed to find how restricted her social circle was. Eagerly sought by
many of the great drawing-rooms of the city, she seldom went to even the
house of a friend.

"Her art is a jealous master," her intimates were accustomed to say,
implying that she had remained single in order that she might climb
higher on the shining ladder of fame, and in a sense this was true; but
she was not sordid in her ambitions--she was a child of nature. She
loved rocks, hills, trees, and clouds. And it was this elemental
simplicity of taste which made Douglass the conquering hero that he was.
She felt in him concrete, rugged strength and honesty of purpose, as
wide as the sky from the polished courtesy and the conventional evasions
of her urban admirers.

"No, I am not a bit in society," she confessed, in answer to some remark
from him. "I couldn't give up my time and strength to it if I wished,
and I don't wish. I'd rather have a few friends in for a quiet little
evening after the play than go to the swellest reception."

During all this glorious time no shadow of approaching failure crossed
their horizon. The weather might be cold and gray; their inner sky
remained unspotted of any vapor. If it rained, they lunched at the
hotel; if the day was clear they ran out into the country or through the
park in delightful comradeship, gay, yet thoughtful, full of brisk talk,
even argument, but not on the drama. She had said, "Once for all, I do
not intend to talk shop when I am out for pleasure," and he respected
her wishes. He had read widely though haphazardly, and his memory was
tenacious, and all he had, his whole mind, his best thought, was at her
command during those hours of recreation.

He began to see the city from the angle of the successful man. It no
longer menaced him; he even began to dream of dominating it by sheer
force of genius. When at her side he was invincible. Her buoyant nature
tr