e weeks."

She said that she didn't mind. His presence here beside her seemed to
fill every reach and need of her being: here was what her soul had cried
for, through all the empty days. It did not seem that she could ever
mind anything any more....

"I'm very lucky to see you," she went on, quite naturally, "for I'm
going back home to-night. Your six months' sentence isn't quite up yet,
is it? Is it business that brings you?"

"What do you call business? Of course I've come," said he, "only to see
you."

He went on, after a glorious pause: "And this is the second time--or is
it the fourth or fifth? Did you happen to hear of me at Eva Payne's
in January?"

"Oh, yes! Only not till four hours after you were gone."

"You'd hardly guess, though, how I've been torn between my--wish, and
what it pleases me to call my pride.... I was in Florida and going on to
Cuba for February, at least, by special request of Heber. I thought I
should like to see you again before I got so far away. Only when I came
in sight of your door once more, I couldn't bring myself to knock...."

One interesting coincidence about the reasoning of beautiful ladies is
that it is sometimes right. Continuing as they swung up the crowded
street, Canning said:

"It seemed to me that ... However, that's no matter now. Unfortunately
I've the devil's own temper. To be packed off so, and then to surrender
without a condition--I needed more weeks of silent self-communion for
that. I've had them now, under pretty skies where the moon shines bright
o' nights. I believe the breezes have blown my humors away. I'm happy to
be here with you, Carlisle."

"I like it, too.... How on earth did you ever find me?"

"Kerr's been writing me notes from time to time, you know. In one of
them he mentioned that you were away from home. I wired him yesterday
from Tampa for your address."

"Dear Willie!" said Carlisle. "Do you know I'm mad to be at home again?"

They came to the shining hotel, and passed into the tea-room, which was
now rapidly filling up. The doorman greeted Mr. Canning by name. An
obsequious majordomo wafted him and his lady, with smiles, to the little
table of his choice. Many eyes were drawn to the young pair. He was a
man to be noticed in any company, but in presence and in air she was his
not unworthy mate. He himself became aware, even then, perhaps more than
ever then, that this provincial girl stood transplanting to a
metropolitan setting with