ng but the
products of a neurotic age--mere hysterical dabblers in the truths of
the universe. She was too delicately feminine, he told himself with
growing conviction, too intelligent and self-controlled, to be more than
temporarily attracted to any such exotic creed. She might toy with it
for a while, but the day must inevitably dawn when common-sense and the
need of surer things would send her back into the broad channel of
simple, satisfying Christianity. For a space this unnatural state of
things would last; for a space their curious companionship would
continue--their long, intimate talks would make life something new and
wonderful; then--But there, for some unexplained reason, speculation
invariably stopped.

So things stood on the fiftieth morning after her first coming. The
stream of suppliants for his favor was all but exhausted, and he awaited
to give the last audience of the day.

After the moment of quiet and solitude that always separated the
interviews, the sonorous gong announced the last visitor; the silent,
ascetic attendant threw open the door and Enid entered.

This time she displayed none of the hesitancy that had marked her early
manner. She came towards the table with quick, assured steps, her face
bright with anticipation.

As she approached, the Prophet rose. It was remarkable that he no longer
retained his sitting position when she entered the room, as was his
custom with the other members of the sect. Involuntarily and almost
unconsciously he extended to her the ordinary courtesies that man
instinctively offers to woman.

As she reached the table, she glanced up at him, and something of the
pleasure died out of her face.

"You look tired," she said, softly.

He smiled.

"Does that disappoint you?"

His tone confused her.

"Oh no! No!" Then she colored slightly and glanced at him again. "Why do
you ask?"

"Because it is the way of humanity to refuse any common weakness to its
leaders--spiritual or temporal."

Again a wave of color crossed her skin. "But surely--"

"Surely what?"

She glanced away; then, seeming to gather up her courage, she looked
back at him.

"I mean," she said, slowly, "that some people are so strong that they
may be allowed to have anything--"

"Even weaknesses--" Once more he smiled. It was significant how,
gradually and indisputably, the tone of teacher had dropped out of his
conversation. Neither could have told the date on which the change had
oc