on; he had asked nothing. There was an
understanding friendship between them that was the communion of spirits.
If only he had not loved her! Or was this, that they had, love? If it
was, must she give it up unless she married him? She felt that she could
not give it up. It was and always would be a part of her. If this was
love that she felt for Martin, why did she not long for the closer union
of marriage with him? Was it that she feared what marriage might do to
this relation of theirs? Did it mean that she did not love him, since
she felt that marriage was not necessary for the perfection of their
oneness? Of course the materialistic would scoff at the idea of the
marriage of minds. But she knew that Martin had impregnated her
spiritual being with the germ of life as truly as she felt her book to
be his child. She wondered whether Jerry would understand that.

"Asleep, Jane?" his voice said.

"No."

"Sorry I missed Christiansen; I meant to see him off. Anna has our
supper ready in here by the fire. And the Bald One sends a message of
urgence."

She rose and came in, laying her hand on his arm, so that he went with
her to the baby's room.

"Too bad he's gone, he couldn't wait," said Jerry, as they bent over
their sleeping son.

"Isn't he perfect, Jerry?" she said with feeling.

"He's A No. 1, Jane," he answered.

They went to their supper. They did not talk much. Jane was thoughtful,
and Jerry respected her mood. Later, while he was smoking on the
balcony, he called to her to come and see the moon. She went out, and
gazed up at the white disk of radiance.

"Jerry, go get that old driver we have, and take me through that park in
this moonlight," she said.

"Are you in earnest?"

"Yes."

"But you aren't well enough."

"I am well. Please, Jerry."

"All right. Wrap up well," he said, as he left her.

Presently he was back with the old, high-backed victoria, and they
started. As they went into the gray forest, it was all silvered with
moonshine until it looked as lovely as a poet's mind. Jane shivered.
Jerry put his arm about her, and held the robe up close to her. She
settled herself against him, and at his smile, she groped for his hand.

"Jane, Jane, don't!" he whispered. "I can't stand it for you to be kind,
if it's...."

"If it's what?"

"The end, Jane. I feel as if my life was all over if you go. I never
knew what you meant to me until--that day. But now I know. I love you so
that I want you