ursue his romance; she had tested things far enough to
feel sure of it. And even if Lady Lakeden was really going to travel for
a time, there would be correspondence between them, and their relations
would be renewed on her return. Since he loved this woman he should be
free to love her openly.

And all the world would be left at peace!

In the days before she had come into his consciousness, had she not
longed and prayed in vain for the joy of helping him to rise again; had
she not dreamed of stretching out a helping hand across the abyss that
separated them, telling herself that that alone would mean supreme
happiness for her? It now came strongly upon her that that mission had
been granted her, and the knowledge that she had achieved it should help
her to be strong! Had not her love for him held a perfect unselfishness?
Was not her goal his happiness before everything? Ah, there was far too
much self in the earthly love of woman for man. This note of self, at
first so carefully suppressed, had yet asserted itself insidiously. Yes,
that had been the cause of all her suffering--poignant, shattering,
almost beyond human endurance. It had been wrong of her; she ought to
have kept closer watch over herself. She had not meant to be a source of
pain and embarrassment to him. To burden his life with a marriage
against his heart and true self were hate, not love. Let him mate with
this brilliant, beautiful woman of his own world, who could tranquilly
breathe the air of the great heights--of Society, of Art--in which his
destiny had placed him. What more could she wish him than that he should
find in life all that he desired?--all the joy, all the achievement, all
the love! Was not this the supreme self-sacrifice of love?

And she must be content with the privilege of the high mission that had
been hers, nay, she must be proud of it--to have entered into his life
at his moment of blackest despair, and set him on the road to heaven!
Let her go back into the darkness now with the ecstasy of sacrifice for
a great love, keeping herself for such service to others as she might
find to her hand.

XXVII

But her mission was not yet complete. She thought of his inadequate
resources, of the uncertainty of the future, if his exhibition pictures
were not successful with the Press and the public. She wished to see him
embarked on the full tide of success before she retired, so that all joy
should flow to him at once. Her retir