ou sell your house?"

"You would not be happy in it. You do not care for it. I am ready
now to live--wherever you wish."

"But I am ready, too, to live--where you wish. Don't you see it does
not matter where one lives? What matters is one must be very
sure--one cannot live apart, and that one's spirit must have chance.
Why did you not tell me, Selwyn? Why did you do this without letting
me know?"

"You would have told me not to do it; would not have consented.
There was no other way to be sure that I was willing--to do my part.
I know now there is something to be done, know I must no longer live
behind high walls."

"But the house will be needed when the walls come down! It is not
where one lives, but how, that counts. You must not sell your house."

"But I have sold it--" Something of the old impatience was in his
voice, then the frown faded. "There was no other way--to be sure.
Were the walls down-- I did not think, perhaps, that walls could be
anywhere. It is too late now. The house was sold while I was away.
The papers will be signed next week."

Again the room grew still and I made effort to think quickly,
definitely. I was not willing that Selwyn should make such sacrifice
for me. I would let the sunshine into his house and love it when its
cold aloofness became friendly warmth, and together we could learn in
it what life would teach. The house must not be sold, but how
prevent? I bent my head down to the violets on my breast, drew in
deep breath. Suddenly a thought came to me. I looked up.

"When a man sells a piece of property doesn't his wife have to sign
the papers as well as himself?"

"She does." Selwyn smiled.

"And the sale couldn't be consummated unless she signed them?"

"It could not. You know the law." Again he smiled. "Not having a
wife--"

"But you will have--before those papers are ready to be signed. I am
not going to sign them. I mean-- Don't you see what I mean?"

"I'm not quite sure I do." Selwyn's voice was grave, uncertain. "Is
it that--"

"We will have to be married next week and then you can tell the party
who wants your house that your wife does not wish it to be sold. Put
the blame on me. It would be disappointing to many people if there
was not something, even about my marriage, for which they could
criticize me. You mustn't sell the house, Selwyn. That is why I
wired you to come. I was afraid it might be too late--if I waited."

Still dou