ts bosom.

Suddenly there broke upon the stillness the sound of a great buzzing, as
of some mammoth bee.

"What is it?" asked Diana, standing in the doorway.

"Look, oh, look," cried Sophie, and then they saw above them, darting
like a dragon-fly through the golden haze, a magic ship of the air.

"I wonder who's flying," said Diana, as they watched it go up and up
until it was a mere speck against the blue. "They are daring folk, these
flying men--yet there are men more daring. If you could see Anthony's
hands! Those strong, competent hands that work with instruments and
surgeon's needles, and a slip may mean some one's life--it's such men
who are the bravest, Sophie, not the men who fly."

The little woman stepped back within the circle of her friend's arm.
Diana towered a head above her, yet spiritually she leaned on Sophie's
fineness and faith.

Their eyes followed that astounding flight, but their thoughts were with
a man whose mornings were spent not in the golden radiance of the upper
air, but in the bare blackness of an operating room.

Suddenly Diana spoke sharply. "If I have lost him, Sophie, what shall I
do?"

"What do all women do," said Sophie, still gazing with rapt face up into
the heavens, "what do all women do who lose the men they love? They pray
for courage, Diana, and for strength--and then--and then they fight as
best they can until the end--Diana."

CHAPTER IV

WHITE LILACS

"Isn't it dear of her to ask me?"

"Very." Anthony took the note which Bettina handed him. In his desk were
many letters written on the gray paper with the silver monogram.
Subconsciously he realized that he ought to destroy them, but there was
time enough for that.

"She says she wants me to stay with her all summer; do you think I
ought?"

"She would not have asked you if she had not meant it."

Bettina, with her small feet on the fender, considered the situation.

"You'll have to come and see me there, and I'll miss our twilight talks
by the fire, with Miss Matthews away, and tea, and no one to
interrupt----"

"The days are growing longer. Soon there will be no twilights and no
fire----"

"And you want me to go?"

His nature was perfectly honest, and he meant that there should be no
barriers between himself and this child-woman. So he told her the truth.
"I don't know. But you'll be very gay. There'll be the dances at the
yacht clubs, and you'll be entertained on the boats, and you'll meet
l