r. It was impossible not to see how "wrapped up" she was in
Rosamund. Dion had come to feel sure that it was natural to Beatrice to
lead her life in another's, and he believed that Rosamund realized this
and often let Beatrice do little things for her which, full of vigor and
"go" as she was, she would have preferred to do for herself.

"I've been boxing and then to see mother," he said, as he took
Beatrice's long narrow hand in his. "She sent her best love to you,
Rosamund."

"The dear mother!" said Rosamund gently.

Dion sat down by Beatrice.

"I'm quite upset by something that's happened," he continued. "You know
poor little Omar, Beattie?"

"Yes. Is he ill?"

"Dead. He was run over yesterday by a four-wheeler."

"Oh!" said Beatrice.

"Poor little dog," Rosamund said, again gently.

"When they picked him up--are you going, Rose?"

"Only for a few minutes. I am sorry. I'll write to the dear mother."

She went quietly out of the room. Dion sprang up to open the door for
her, but she had been sitting nearer to the door than he, and he was too
late; he shut it, however, and came slowly back to Beatrice.

"I wonder----" He looked at Beatrice's pale face and earnest dark eyes.
"D'you think Rosamund disliked my mentioning poor Omar's being killed?"

"No."

"But didn't she leave us rather abruptly?"

"I think perhaps she didn't want to hear any details. You were just
beginning to--"

"How stupid of me!"

"You see, Rosamund has the child to live for now."

"Yes--yes. What blunderers we men are, however much we try--"

"That's not a blame you ought to take," Beatrice interrupted, with
earnest gentleness. "You are the most thoughtful man I know--for a
woman, I mean."

Dion flushed.

"Am I? I try to be. If I am it's because--well, Beattie, you know what
Rose is to me."

"Yes, I know."

"Dearer and dearer every day. But nobody----Mother thinks a lot of her."

"Who doesn't? There aren't many Roses like ours."

"None. Poor mother! Beattie, d'you think she feels very lonely? You know
she's got heaps of friends--heaps."

"Yes."

"It isn't as if she knew very few people, or lived alone in the
country."

"No but I'm very sorry her little dog's dead."

"I want to give her another."

"It would be no use."

"But why not?"

"You see, little Omar was always there when you were living there."

"Well?"

"He was part of her life with you."

"Oh--yes."

Dion looked rather hard at Beatrice. In t