ugh. I am bound to," he finished ardently, "just bound
to."

Rainsford said musingly, "I made a little investment, but it went to
pot. I hoped--I'm always hoping--but the money didn't double itself."

The engineer didn't hear him. He was already thinking how he could
transform his kitchen into a studio, although it had an east light. Just
here Rainsford leaned over and put his hand on Antony's sleeve. "I want
to say a word to you about your wife. I don't think she's very well."

"Molly?" answered his companion calmly. "She's all right. She has a
mighty fine constitution, and I never heard her complain. When did you
see her, Rainsford?" He frowned.

"Saturday, when you were in New York. You forgot to send your pass-book,
and I went for it myself."

"Well?" queried Antony. "What then?"

"Mrs. Fairfax gave me the book, and I stopped to speak with her for a
few moments. I find her very much changed."

The light died from the young man's illumined face where his visions had
kindled a sacred fire. The realities of life blotted it out.

"I'm not able to give Molly any distractions, that you know."

"She doesn't want them, Tony." Rainsford looked kindly and
affectionately, almost tenderly, at him, and repeated gently: "She
doesn't want amusement, Tony."

And Fairfax threw up his head with a sort of despair on his face--

"My God, Rainsford," he murmured, "what can I do?"

"I'm afraid she's breaking her heart," said the older man. "Poor little
woman!"

CHAPTER XXVII

In the little room they used as parlour-kitchen and which to one of the
inhabitants at least was lovely, Fairfax found Molly sitting by the
window through which the spring light fell. The evening was warm. Molly
wore a print dress, and in her bodice he saw that she had thrust a spray
of pink geranium from the window-boxes that Antony had made and filled
for her. Nothing that had claim to beauty failed to touch his senses,
and he saw the charm of the picture in the pale spring light. He had
softly turned the door-handle, and as there was a hand-organ playing
without and Molly listening to the music, he entered without her hearing
him.

"Is it yourself?" she exclaimed, startled. "You're home early, Tony."

He told her that he had come to take her for a little walk, and as she
moved out of the light and came toward him, he thought he knew what
Rainsford had meant. She was thin and yet not thin. The roundness had
gone from her cheeks, and the