couple of months he came home for a day. He was dressed
with the quiet elegance which once had been so important in his eyes.

His mother noted it shrewdly. "A man has more courage to face life,
decently clothed," she said to herself.

He did not come again until winter. Lucy happened to be spending the
day with Mrs. Waldeaux. There were no liveried servants, no priceless
rings, no Worth gown in sight. She was just the shy, foolish girl whom
he had once for an hour looked upon as his wife. George talked about
Wall Street to her, being now wise as to stocks; took her out
sleighing, and when in the evening she took Jack in her arms and sang
him to sleep, sat listening with his head buried in his hands. Mrs.
Waldeaux carried the boy up to bed, and Lucy and George were left
alone. They talked long and earnestly.

"She consulted me about her affairs," he said, after she was gone, his
eyes shining.

"I am afraid she does not understand business!" Mrs. Waldeaux replied
anxiously.

"Oh, like a woman! That is, not at all. Her whole property is in the
hands of The Consolidated Good Faith Companies. I reminded her of the
old adage, 'Never put all of your eggs into one basket.'"

"But that is so sound a basket, George!" "Yes. It is thought so," with
a shrug.

"Poor child! She needs a guardian to advise her."

Waldeaux's countenance grew black. "She should employ an attorney. It
certainly will never be my duty to advise Miss Dunbar," he retorted
irritably.

George showed himself shrewd and able in his work. Mr. Hoyle was a
powerful backer. Before spring his salary was doubled. But what was
that? The gulf between him and the great heiress gaped, impassable.

Lucy spent much time with her old friend, and Frances at last broke the
silence concerning him.

"The boy never before knew what love was. And it is you that he loves,
child."

"He has not told me so," said Lucy coldly.

"No. And never will. It is your wealth that makes him dumb. I wish
it was gone," said Frances earnestly. "Gone. You would be so happy.
What is money compared to being----"

"George's wife?" Lucy laughed.

"Yes. George's wife. I know what he is worth," his mother said
boldly. "You might give it away?" looking eagerly in the girl's face.
"In charity."

"I might do so," said Miss Dunbar tranquilly.

One morning in April Mrs. Waldeaux saw George coming up from the
station. She ran to meet him.

He was pale an