ignoble passion in its place. If you want fame, you
must pay the price of eternal loneliness. For love, you must give
self-surrender, and take the hurts of it without complaining. For
health, you pay in self-denial and right living. Yes, you may take
what you like, and the bill will be collected later, but there is
no exchange, and you must buy something. Take as long as you wish
to choose, but you must buy and you must pay."

* * * * *

Margaret awoke with his voice thundering in her ears: "You must buy and
you must pay." The dream was extraordinarily vivid, and it seemed as
though someone shared it with her. It was difficult to believe that it
had not actually happened.

"I have bought," she said to herself, "and I have paid. Now it only
remains for me to enjoy Lynn's triumph. He will not have to pay--his
mother has paid for him."

At breakfast, Iris was more like herself, and Lynn was in good spirits.
"I dreamed all night," he said, cheerily, "and one dream kept coming
back. I was buying something somewhere and refusing to pay for it, and
there was a row about it. I insisted that the thing was paid for--I
don't know what it was, but it was something I wanted."

"We always pay," said Iris, sadly; "but I can't help wondering what I am
paying for now."

"Perhaps," suggested Margaret, "you are paying in advance."

Iris brightened, and upon her face came the ghost of a smile. "That may
be," she answered.

"Iris," asked Lynn, "will you go out with me this afternoon? You
haven't been for a long time."

"I don't think so," she replied, dully. "It is kind of you, but I'm not
very strong just now."

"We'll walk slowly," Lynn assured her, "and it will do you good. Won't
you come, just to please me?"

His voice was very tender, and Iris sighed. "I'll see," she said,
resignedly; "I don't care what I do."

"At three, then," said Lynn. "I'll get through practising by that time
and I'll be waiting for you."

At the appointed time they started, and Margaret waved her hand at them
as they went down the path. Iris was so thin and fragile that it seemed
as if any passing wind might blow her away. Lynn was very careful and
considerate.

"Where do you want to go?" he asked.

"I don't care; I don't want to climb, though. Let's keep on level
ground."

"Very well, but where? Which way?"

Iris felt the stiff corner of the letter hidden in her gown. "Let's go
up the river," she said. "I'v