f his empty life he loved her, and
longed for her for his own. That was the reason of his happiness during
the past days, of the extraordinary new zest and interest in life which
had filled his mind; of his content in Pixie's contentment, his anxiety
for her anxiety, his furious resentment when she was abused. And he
loved her. He loved her when she lapsed into her Irish brogue, and said
"Me dear"; he loved her when she assumed Frenchified airs, struck
attitudes, and cried "_Ma foi_!" he loved her when she was sad, when she
was glad, when she was youthful and mischievous, when she was serious
and old, when she walked beside him in the street in the hat with the
curling feather, when she sat on the hearthrug in her rose-hued dress
crooning songs in her soft, sweet voice. Always, and always, he loved
her; she had crept into his heart like a ray of sunshine lighting up
unused rooms; she had melted his coldness, as the south wind melts the
frost. He loved Pixie, and Pixie was going to marry Stanor Vaughan...

Stephen Glynn stepped shuddering into the clammy street, and away up on
the fifth floor landing Pixie still stood motionless, holding the handle
of that open door, repeating to herself dreamily that he would come
back, he must come back! He had never said good-bye!

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

COMPLICATIONS.

On the following afternoon Stephen Glynn failed to pay his daily visit
to the flat. After the revelation of the night before he had neither
the strength nor the courage to encounter Pixie anew. Little use to
shut the stable door after the steed had flown, but he must at least
have time to think, to face the future, and decide upon his own course.
And then at seven o'clock came the ring of the telephone, and Pixie's
voice speaking piteously in his ear--

"Is it you? You yourself? Oh, why didn't you come? I was waiting for
you. I wanted you. Pat's ill! He's ill, and he won't let me send for
the doctor. Oh, do come round!"

"I'm coming!" Stephen said, and hung up the receiver. Pixie wanted
him, that settled the matter. In half an hour's time his car stopped
before the entrance to the flat, and the chauffeur was bidden to wait
for further orders, while his master mounted the long flights of steps.

Pixie was seated beside the fire, and the glance of her eyes spoke of a
warning which he was quick to understand. Pat was not to suspect that
his friend had been summoned on his behalf. He turned t