rry employed in walking about
the room; then the door opened, and was softly closed, and Yanna stood
in his presence, pale as a lily, but lovelier in his sight than she
had ever before been.

He held out his hands to her. His eager face was a prayer. And though
she stood very still, her heart was stirring and throbbing and sweetly
urging: "_Forgive him! Forgive him!_" Then her eyes filled with a
soft, blue light; and a smile that you might have felt in the dark
spread like sunshine over her white face--and her hand clasped his
hands--she was within his arms--something wonderful and instantaneous
took place--everything was confessed in a look, and forgiven in a
kiss, and love was satisfied without a word.

And the bliss and the strength of the next two hours convinced Harry
that he could no longer bear to be separated from a woman so near to
his best self, and so necessary to it. He prayed Yanna to marry him at
once, that day--well then, that week--or, if not, then certainly that
month--when Miss Alida came back to Woodsome, and not a day later. And
just how it happened neither knew, but when Harry went back to New
York it was with Yanna's promise to make their wedding day at a very
early date.

On the journey he naturally thought of his mother, and he resolved to
face her anger at once. "The day has been fortunate; I will take all
it can give me," he said. And so, as soon as he reached his home, he
inquired for Mrs. Filmer. She had been making calls all the afternoon,
and the woman who can return from that social duty in a state of
serenity has not yet been evolved from nineteenth century conditions.
Mrs. Filmer was not only tired, she was cross. "I feel as if I had
been turned into a pincushion," she said. "All the afternoon the wind
blew the dust into my face, and the women pricked me in every place
they thought a pin-point could hurt. They have condoled with me about
Rose's marriage until I could scarcely keep the tears in my heart, and
congratulated me on it until my face burned like a flame. I never
before knew that words could be stillettos. But if you had only been
with me, Harry, it would have been different. Where have you been all
day? I called on Miss Van Hoosen, and she had not seen you."

"I have been to Woodsome."

"It was unnecessary. Your father was there two days ago. All is ready
for us."

"I went to see Yanna. I want to induce Yanna to marry me very soon--in
fact, this month."

"I must be go