Inthemorningshegotupfromhersleeplessbed，seemedtoeatherbreakfast，andwentofftoherhospital。Thereshewashedupplatesanddishes，withastonyface，darkundertheeyes。
　　ThenewscametoPiersoninaletterfromThirza，receivedatlunch—
　　time。Hereaditwithadreadfulaching。Poor，poorlittleNollie！
　　Whatanawfultroubleforher！Andhe，too，wentabouthisworkwiththenightmarethoughtthathehadtobreakthenewstoherthatevening。Neverhadhefeltmorelonely，moredreadfullyinwantofthemotherofhischildren。Shewouldhaveknownhowtosoothe，howtocomfort。Onherheartthechildcouldhavesobbedawaygrief。
　　Andallthathour，fromseventoeight，whenhewasusuallyinreadinesstofulfilthefunctionsofGod’ssubstitutetohisparishioners，hespentinprayerofhisown，forguidancehowtoinflictandhealthisblow。When，atlast，Noelcame，heopened。
　　thedoortoherhimself，and，puttingbackthehairfromherforehead，said:"Comeinhereamoment，mydarling！"Noelfollowedhimintothestudy，andsatdown。"Iknowalready，Daddy。"Piersonwasmoredismayedbythisstoicismthanhewouldhavebeenbyanynaturaloutburst。Hestood，timidlystrokingherhair，murmuringtoherwhathehadsaidtoGratian，andtosomanyothersinthesedays:
　　"Thereisnodeath;lookforwardtoseeinghimagain;Godismerciful"Andhemarvelledatthecalmnessofthatpaleface——soyoung。
　　"Youareverybrave，mychild！"hesaid。
　　"There’snothingelsetobe，isthere？"
　　"Isn’tthereanythingIcandoforyou，Nollie？"
　　"No，Daddy。"
　　"Whendidyouseeit？"
　　"Lastnight。"Shehadalreadyknownfortwenty—fourhourswithouttellinghim！
　　"Haveyouprayed，mydarling？"
　　"No。"
　　"Try，Nollie！"
　　"No。"
　　"Ah，try！"
　　"Itwouldberidiculous，Daddy;youdon’tknow。"
　　Grievouslyupsetandbewildered，Piersonmovedawayfromher，andsaid:
　　"Youlookdreadfullytired。Wouldyoulikeahotbath，andyourdinnerinbed？"
　　"I’dlikesometea;that’sall。"Andshewentout。
　　Whenhehadseenthattheteahadgoneuptoher，hetoowentout;
　　and，movedbyalongingforwoman’shelp，tookacabtoLeila’sflat。
　　III
　　1
　　OnleavingtheconcertLeilaandJimmyForthadsecuredataxi;avehiclewhich，atnight，inwartime，hascertainadvantagesforthosewhodesiretobecomebetteracquainted。Vibration，sufficientnoise，darkness，areguaranteed;andallthatislackingforthefurtheranceofemotionisthescentofhoneysuckleandroses，orevenofthewhitefloweringcreeperwhichonthestoepatHighConstantiahadsmelledsomuchsweeterthanpetrol。
　　WhenLeilafoundherselfwithFortinthatlonelinesstowhichshehadbeenlookingforward，shewasovercomebyanaccessofnervoussilence。Shehadbeenpassingthroughastrangetimeforweekspast。
　　Everynightsheexaminedhersensationswithoutquiteunderstandingthemasyet。Whenawomancomestoherage，theworld—forceisliabletotakepossession，saying:
　　"Youwereyoung，youwerebeautiful，youstillhavebeauty，youarenot，cannotbe，old。Clingtoyouth，clingtobeauty;takeallyoucanget，beforeyourfacegetslinesandyourhairgrey;itisimpossiblethatyouhavebeenlovedforthelasttime。"
　　ToseeJimmyFortattheconcert，talkingtoNoel，hadbroughtthisemotiontoahead。Shewasnotofagrudgingnature，andcouldgenuinelyadmireNoel，buttheideathatJimmyFortmightalsoadmiredisturbedhergreatly。Hemustnot;itwasnotfair;hewastooold—
　　—besides，thegirlhadherboy;andshehadtakencarethatheshouldknowit。So，leaningtowardshim，whileabare—shoulderedyoungladysang，shehadwhispered:
　　"Penny？"
　　Andhehadwhisperedback:
　　"Tellyouafterwards。"
　　Thathadcomfortedher。Shewouldmakehimtakeherhome。Itwastimesheshowedherheart。
　　Andnow，inthecab，resolvedtomakeherfeelingsknown，insuddenshynessshefounditverydifficult。Love，towhichforquitethreeyearsshehadbeenastranger，wascometolifewithinher。Theknowledgewasatoncesosweet，andsodisturbing，thatshesatwithfaceaverted，unabletoturnthepreciousminutestoaccount。Theyarrivedattheflatwithouthavingdonemorethanagreethatthestreetsweredark，andthemoonbright。Shegotoutwithasenseofbewilderment，andsaidratherdesperately:
　　"Youmustcomeupandhaveacigarette。It’squiteearly，still。"
　　Hewentup。
　　"Waitjustaminute，"saidLeila。
　　Sittingtherewithhisdrinkandhiscigarette，hestaredatsomesunflowersinabowl——FamilleRose——andwaitedjustten;smilingalittle，recallingthenoseofthefairyprincess，andthedaintywayherlipsshapedthewordsshespoke。Ifshehadnothadthatluckyyoungdevilofasoldierboy，onewouldhavewantedtobucklehershoes，layone’scoatinthemudforher，orwhatevertheydidinfairytales。Onewouldhavewanted——ah！whatwouldonenothavewanted！Hangthatsoldierboy！Leilasaidhewastwenty—two。ByGeorge！howolditmadeamanfeelwhowasrisingforty，andtenderontheoff—fore！Nofairyprincessesforhim！Thenawhiffofperfumecametohisnostrils;and，lookingup，hesawLeilastandingbeforehim，inalonggarmentofdarksilk，whenceherwhitearmspeepedout。
　　"Anotherpenny？Doyourememberthesethings，Jimmy？TheMalaywomenusedtoweartheminCapeTown。Youcan’tthinkwhatareliefitistogetoutofmyslave’sdress。Oh！I’msosickofnursing！
　　Jimmy，Iwanttoliveagainalittle！"
　　Thegarmenthadtakenfifteenyearsoffherage，andagardenia，justwherethesilkcrossedonherbreast，seemednowhiterthanherskin。
　　Hewonderedwhimsicallywhetherithaddroppedtoheroutofthedark！
　　"Live？"hesaid。"Why！Don’tyoualways？"
　　Sheraisedherhandssothatthedarksilkfell，backfromthewholelengthofthosewhitearms。
　　"Ihaven’tlivedfortwoyears。Oh，Jimmy！Helpmetolivealittle！Life’ssoshort，now。"
　　Hereyesdisturbedhim，strainedandpathetic;thesightofherarms;
　　thescentoftheflowerdisturbedhim;hefelthischeeksgrowingwarm，andlookeddown。
　　Sheslippedsuddenlyforwardontoherkneesathisfeet，tookhishand，presseditwithbothofhers，andmurmured:
　　"Lovemealittle！Whatelseisthere？Oh！Jimmy，whatelseisthere？"
　　Andwiththescentoftheflower，crushedbytheirhands，stirringhissenses，Fortthought:’Ah，whatelseisthere，intheseforsakendays？’
　　ToJimmyFort，whohadasenseofhumour，andwasinsomesortaphilosopher，thehaphazardwaylifesettledthingsseldomfailedtoseemamusing。ButwhenhewalkedawayfromLeila’shewaspensive。
　　Shewasagoodsort，aprettycreature，asportswoman，anenchantress;but——shewasdecidedlymature。Andherehewas——
　　involvedinhelpingherto"live";involvedalmostalarmingly，fortherehadbeennomistakingthefactthatshehadreallyfalleninlovewithhim。
　　Thiswasflatteringandsweet。Timesweresad，andpleasurescarce，but——！Therovinginstinctwhichhadkepthim，fromhisyouthup，rollingabouttheworld，shiedinstinctivelyatbonds，howeverpleasant，thestrengthandthicknessofwhichhecouldnotgauge;or，wasitthatperhapsforthefirsttimeinhislifehehadbeenpeepingintofairylandoflate，andthisaffairwithLeilawasbynomeansfairyland？Hehadanotherreason，moreunconscious，foruneasiness。Hisheart，forallhiswanderings，wassoft，hehadalwaysfounditdifficulttohurtanyone，especiallyanyonewhodidhimthehonourtolovehim。Asortofpresentimentweighedonhimwhilehewalkedthemoonlitstreetsatthismostemptyhour，wheneventhelatetaxishadceasedtorun。Wouldshewanthimtomarryher？Woulditbehisduty，ifshedid？Andthenhefoundhimselfthinkingoftheconcert，andthatgirl’sface，listeningtothetaleshewastellingher。’Deucedqueerworld，’hethought，’thewaythingsgo！Iwonderwhatshewouldthinkofus，ifsheknew——andthatgoodpadre！Phew！’
　　Hemadesuchveryslowprogress，forfearofgivingwayinhisleg，andhavingtospendthenightonadoor—step，thathehadplentyoftimeforrumination;butsinceitbroughthimnoconfidencewhatever，hebeganatlasttofeel:’Well;itmightbealotworse。Takethegoodsthegodssendyouanddon’tfuss！’AndsuddenlyherememberedwithextremevividnessthatnightonthestoepatHighConstantia，andthoughtwithdismay:’Icouldhaveplungedinoverheadandearsthen;andnow——Ican’t！That’slifeallover！PoorLeila！Memiserum，too，perhaps——whoknows！’
　　IV
　　WhenLeilaopenedherdoortoEdwardPierson，hereyesweresmiling，andherlipsweresoft。Sheseemedtosmileandbesoftallover，andshetookbothhishands。Everythingwasapleasuretoherthatday，eventhesightofthissadface。Shewasinloveandwaslovedagain;hadapresentandafutureoncemore，notonlyherownfullpast;andshemustfinishwithEdwardinhalfanhour，forJimmywascoming。Shesatdownonthedivan，tookhishandinasisterlyway，andsaid:
　　"Tellme，Edward;Icanseeyou’reintrouble。Whatisit？"
　　"Noel。Theboyshewasfondofhasbeenkilled。"
　　Shedroppedhishand。
　　"Oh，no！Poorchild！It’stoocruel！"Tearsstartedupinhergreyeyes，andshetouchedthemwithatinyhandkerchief。"Poor，poorlittleNoel！Wassheveryfondofhim？"
　　"Averysudden，shortengagement;butI’mafraidshetakesitdesperatelytoheart。Idon’tknowhowtocomforther;onlyawomancould。Icametoaskyou:Doyouthinksheoughttogoonwithherwork？Whatdoyouthink，Leila？Ifeellost！"
　　Leila，gazingathim，thought:’Lost？Yes，youlooklost，mypoorEdward！’
　　"Ishouldlethergoon，"shesaid:"ithelps;it’stheonlythingthatdoeshelp。I’llseeifIcangetthemtolethercomeintothewards。Sheoughttobeintouchwithsufferingandthemen;thatkitchenworkwilltryherawfullyjustnow:Washeveryyoung？"
　　"Yes。Theywantedtogetmarried。Iwasopposedtoit。"
　　Leila’slipcurledeversolittle。’Youwouldbe！’shethought。
　　"Icouldn’tbeartothinkofNolliegivingherselfhastily，likethat;theyhadonlyknowneachotherthreeweeks。Itwasveryhardforme，Leila。Andthensuddenlyhewassenttothefront。"
　　ResentmentwelledupinLeila。Thekill—Joys！Asiflifedidn’tkilljoyfastenough！Hercousin’sfaceatthatmomentwasalmostabhorrenttoher，itsgentleperplexedgoodnessdarkenedandwarpedbythatmonkishlook。Sheturnedaway，glancedattheclockoverthehearth，andthought:’Yes，andhewouldstopJimmyandme！Hewouldsay:"Oh，no！dearLeila——youmustn’tlove——it’ssin！"HowIhatethatword！’
　　"Ithinkthemostdreadfulthinginlife，"shesaidabruptly，"isthewaypeoplesuppresstheirnaturalinstincts;whattheysuppressinthemselvestheymakeotherpeoplesuppresstoo，iftheycan;andthat’sthecauseofhalfthemiseryinthisworld。"
　　Thenatthesurpriseonhisfaceatthislittleoutburst，whosecausehecouldnotknow，sheaddedhastily:"IhopeNoelwillgetoveritquickly，andfindsomeoneelse。"
　　"Yes。Iftheyhadbeenmarried——howmuchworseitwouldhavebeen。
　　ThankGod，theyweren’t！"
　　"Idon’tknow。Theywouldhavehadanhourofbliss。Evenanhourofblissisworthsomethinginthesedays。"
　　"Tothosewhoonlybelieveinthis’life——perhaps。"
　　’Tenminutesmore！’shethought:’Oh，whydoesn’thego？’Butatthatverymomenthegotup，andinstantlyherheartwentouttohimagain。
　　"I’msosorry，Edward。IfIcanhelpinanyway——I’lltrymybestwithNoelto—morrow;anddocometomewheneveryoufeelinclined。"
　　Shetookhishandinhers;afraidthathewouldsitdownagain，sheyetcouldnothelpasoftglanceintohiseyes，andalittlerushofpityingwarmthinthepressureofherhand。
　　Piersonsmiled;thesmilewhichalwaysmadehersorryforhim。
　　"Good—bye，Leila;you’reverygoodandkindtome。Good—bye。"
　　Herbosomswelledwithreliefandcompassion;and——shelethimout。
　　Runningupstairsagainshethought:’I’vejusttime。WhatshallI
　　puton？PoorEdward，poorNoel！WhatcolourdoesJimmylike？Oh！
　　Whydidn’tIkeephimthosetenyearsago——whatutterwaste！’And，feverishlyadorningherself，shecamebacktothewindow，andstoodthereinthedarktowatch，whilesomejasminewhichgrewbelowsentupitsscenttoher。’WouldImarryhim？’shethought，’ifheaskedme？Buthewon’taskme——whyshouldhenow？Besides，Icouldn’tbearhimtofeelIwantedpositionormoneyfromhim。Ionlywantlove——love——love！’Thesilentrepetitionofthatwordgaveherawonderfulsenseofsolidityandcomfort。Solongassheonlywantedlove，surelyhewouldgiveit。
　　Atallfigureturneddownpastthechurch，comingtowardsher。Itwashe！Andsuddenlyshebethoughtherself。Shewenttothelittleblackpiano，satdown，andbegantosingthesongshehadsungtohimtenyearsago:"IfIcouldbethefallingdewandfallontheeallday！"Shedidnotevenlookroundwhenhecamein，butcontinuedtocroonoutthewords，consciousofhimjustbehindhershoulderinthedark。Butwhenshehadfinished，shegotupandthrewherarmsroundhim，strainedhimtoher，andburstintotearsonhisshoulder;
　　thinkingofNoelandthatdeadboy，thinkingofthemillionsofotherboys，thinkingofherownhappiness，thinkingofthosetenyearswasted，ofhowshortwaslife，andlove;thinking——hardlyknowingwhatshethought！AndJimmyFort，verymovedbythisemotionwhichheonlyhalfunderstood，pressedhertightlyinhisarms，andkissedherwetcheeksandherneck，paleandwarminthedarkness。
　　V
　　1
　　Noelwentonwithherworkforamonth，andthen，onemorning，faintedoverapileofdishes。Thenoiseattractedattention，andMrs。Lynchwassummoned。
　　ThesightofherlyingtheresodeadlywhitetaxedLeila’snervesseverely。Butthegirlrevivedquickly，andacabwassentfor。
　　Leilawentwithher，andtoldthedrivertostopatCamelotMansions。
　　Whytakeherhomeinthisstate，whynotsavethejolting，andletherrecoverproperly？Theywentupstairsarminarm。Leilamadeherliedownonthedivan，andputahot—waterbottletoherfeet。Noelwasstillsopassiveandpalethateventospeaktoherseemedacruelty。And，goingtoherlittlesideboard，LeilastealthilyextractedapintbottleofsomechampagnewhichJimmyForthadsentin，andtookitwithtwoglassesandacorkscrewintoherbedroom。
　　Shedrankalittleherself，andcameoutbearingaglasstothegirl。
　　Noelshookherhead，andhereyesseemedtosay:"DoyoureallythinkI’msoeasilymended？"ButLeilahadbeenthroughtoomuchinhertimetodespiseearthlyremedies，andsheheldittothegirl’slipsuntilshedrank。Itwasexcellentchampagne，and，sinceNoelhadneveryettouchedalcohol，hadaninstantaneouseffect。Hereyesbrightened;littleredspotscameupinhercheeks。Andsuddenlysherolledoverandburiedherfacedeepinacushion。Withhershorthair，shelookedsolikeachildlyingthere，thatLeilakneltdown，strokingherhead，andsaying:"There，there;mylove！There，there！"
　　Atlastthegirlraisedherself;nowthatthepallid，masklikedespairofthelastmonthwasbroken，sheseemedonfire，andherfacehadawildlook。She，withdrewherselffromLeila’stouch，and，crossingherarmstightlyacrossherchest，said:
　　"Ican’tbearit;Ican’tsleep。Iwanthimback;Ihatelife——
　　Ihatetheworld。Wehadn’tdoneanything——onlyjustlovedeachother。Godlikespunishing;justbecausewelovedeachother;wehadonlyonedaytoloveeachother——onlyoneday——onlyone！"
　　Leilacouldseethelongwhitethroatabovethoserigidarmsstrainingandswallowing;itgaveherachokyfeelingtowatchit。
　　Thevoice，uncannilydaintyforallthewildnessofthewordsandface，wenton:
　　"Iwon’t——Idon’twanttolive。Ifthere’sanotherlife，Ishallgotohim。Andifthereisn’t——it’sjustsleep。"
　　Leilaputoutherhandtowardofthesewildwanderings。Likemostwomenwholivesimplythelifeoftheirsensesandemotions，shewasorthodox;orratherneverspeculatedonsuchthings。
　　"Tellmeaboutyourselfandhim，"shesaid。
　　Noelfastenedhergreateyesonhercousin。"Welovedeachother;
　　andchildrenareborn，aren’tthey，afteryou’veloved？Butminewon’tbe！"Fromthelookonherfaceratherthanfromherwords，thefullrealityofhermeaningcametoLeila，vanished，cameagain。
　　Nonsense！But——whatanawfulthing，iftrue！Thatwhichhadalwaysseemedtohersuchanexaggeratedoccurrenceinthecommonwalksoflife——why！now，itwasatragedy！Instinctivelysheraisedherselfandputherarmsroundthegirl。
　　"Mypoordear！"shesaid;"you’refancyingthings！"
　　ThecolourhadfadedoutofNoel’sface，and，withherheadthrownbackandhereyelidshalf—closed，shelookedlikeascornfulyoungghost。
　　"Ifitis——Ishan’tlive。Idon’tmeanto——it’seasytodie。
　　Idon’tmeanDaddytoknow。"
　　"Oh！mydear，mydear！"wasallLeilacouldstammer。
　　"Wasitwrong，Leila？"
　　"Wrong？Idon’tknow——wrong？Ifitreallyisso——itwas——
　　unfortunate。Butsurely，surely——you’remistaken？"
　　Noelshookherhead。"Ididitsothatweshouldbelongtoeachother。Nothingcouldhavetakenhimfromme。"
　　Leilacaughtatthegirl’swords。
　　"Then，mydear——hehasn’tquitegonefromyou，yousee？"
　　Noel’slipsformeda"No"whichwasinaudible。"ButDaddy！"shewhispered。
　　Edward’sfacecamebeforeLeilasovividlythatshecouldhardlyseethegirlforthetorturedshapeofit。Thenthehedonistinherrevoltedagainstthatasceticvision。Herworldlyjudgmentcondemnedanddeploredthiscalamity，herinstinctcouldnothelpapplaudingthathouroflifeandlove，snatchedoutofthejawsofdeath。"Needheeverknow？"shesaid。
　　"IcouldneverlietoDaddy。Butitdoesn’tmatter。Whyshouldonegoonliving，whenlifeisrotten？"
　　Outsidethesunwasshiningbrightly，thoughitwaslateOctober。
　　Leilagotupfromherknees。Shestoodatthewindowthinkinghard。
　　"Mydear，"shesaidatlast，"youmustn’tgetmorbid。Lookatme！
　　I’vehadtwohusbands，and——and——well，aprettystormyupanddowntimeofit;andIdaresayI’vegotlotsoftroublebeforeme。ButI’mnotgoingtocavein。Normustyou。ThePiersonshaveplentyofpluck;youmustn’tbeatraitortoyourblood。That’sthelastthing。Yourboywouldhavetoldyoutostickit。Theseareyour’trenches，’andyou’renotgoingtobedowned，areyou？"
　　Aftershehadspokentherewasalongsilence，beforeNoelsaid:
　　"Givemeacigarette，Leila。"
　　Leilaproducedthelittleflatcaseshecarried。
　　"That’sbrave，"shesaid。"Nothing’sincurableatyourage。Onlyonething’sincurable——gettingold。"
　　Noellaughed。"That’scurabletoo，isn’tit？"
　　"Notwithoutsurrender。"
　　Againtherewasasilence，whilethebluefumefromtwocigarettesfast—smoked，rosetowardsthelowceiling。ThenNoelgotupfromthedivan，andwentovertothepiano。Shewasstillinherhospitaldressoflilac—colouredlinen，andwhileshestoodtheretouchingthekeys，playingachordnow，andthen，Leila’sheartfelthollowfromcompassion;shewassohappyherselfjustnow，andthischildsoverywretched！
　　"Playtome，"shesaid;"no——don’t;I’llplaytoyou。"Andsittingdown，shebegantoplayandsingalittleFrenchsong，whosefirstlineran:"Sionestjolie，joliecommevous。"Itwassoft，gay，charming。Ifthegirlcried，somuchthebetter。ButNoeldidnotcry。Sheseemedsuddenlytohaverecoveredallherself—possession。
　　Shespokecalmly，answeredLeila’squestionswithoutemotion，andsaidshewouldgohome。Leilawentoutwithher，andwalkedsomewayinthedirectionofherhome;distressed，butfranklyataloss。AtthebottomofPortlandPlaceNoelstoppedandsaid:"I’mquiteallrightnow，Leila;thankyouawfully。Ishalljustgohomeandliedown。AndIshallcometo—morrow，thesameasusual。Goodbye！"
　　Leilacouldonlygraspthegirl’shand，andsay:"Mydear，that’ssplendid。There’smanyaslip——besides，it’swar—time。"
　　Withthatsaying，enigmaticeventoherself，shewatchedthegirlmovingslowlyaway;andturnedbackherselftowardsherhospital，withadisturbedandcompassionateheart。
　　2
　　ButNoeldidnotgoeast;shewalkeddownRegentStreet。Shehadreceivedacertainmeasureofcomfort，beensteadiedbyherexperiencedcousin’svitality，andthenewthoughtssuggestedbythosewords:"Hehasn’tquitegonefromyou，hashe？""Besides，it’swar—time。"Leilahadspokenfreely，too，andthephysicalignoranceinwhichthegirlhadbeengropingtheselastweekswasnowremoved。
　　Likemostproudnatures，shedidnotnaturallythinkmuchabouttheopinionofotherpeople;besides，sheknewnothingoftheworld，itsfeelingsandjudgments。Hernightmarewasthethoughtofherfather’shorrorandgrief。Shetriedtolessenthatnightmarebyrememberinghisoppositiontohermarriage，andtheresentmentshehadfelt。Hehadneverrealised，neverunderstood，howsheandCyrilloved。Now，ifshewerereallygoingtohaveachild，itwouldbeCyril’s——Cyril’sson——Cyriloveragain。Theinstinctstrongerthanreason，refinement，tradition，upbringing，whichhadpushedheroninsuchhastetomakesureofunion——theirrepressiblepulseoflifefacedwithannihilation——seemedtorevivewithinher，andmakeherterriblesecretalmostprecious。Shehadreadabout"Warbabies"inthepapers，readwithadullcuriosity;butnowtheatmosphere，asitwere，ofthosewritingswasilluminedforher。Thesebabieswerewrong，werea"problem，"andyet，behindallthat，sheseemednowtoknowthatpeopleweregladofthem;theymadeup，theyfilledthegaps。Perhaps，whenshehadone，shewouldbeproud，secretlyproud，inspiteofeveryone，inspiteofherfather！TheyhadtriedtokillCyril——Godandeveryone;buttheyhadn’tbeenable，hewasalivewithinher！Aglowcameintoherface，walkingamongthebusyshoppingcrowd，andpeopleturnedtolookather;shehadthatappearanceofseeingnoone，nothing，whichisstrangeandattractivetothosewhohaveamomenttosparefromcontemplationoftheirownaffairs。Fullytwohoursshewanderedthus，beforegoingin，andonlylostthatexaltedfeelingwhen，inherownlittleroom，shehadtakenuphisphotograph，andwassittingonherbedgazingatit。
　　Shehadabadbreakdownthen。Lockedinthere，shelayonherbed，crying，dreadfullylonely，tillshefellasleepexhausted，withthetear—stainedphotographclutchedinhertwitchingfingers。Shewokewithastart。Itwasdark，andsomeonewasknockingonherdoor。
　　"MissNoel！"
　　Childishperversitykepthersilent。Whycouldn’ttheyleaveheralone？Theywouldleaveheraloneiftheyknew。Thensheheardanotherkindofknocking，andherfather’svoice:
　　"Nollie！Nollie！"
　　Shescrambledup，andopened。Helookedscared，andherheartsmoteher。
　　"It’sallright，Daddy;Iwasasleep。"
　　"Mydear，I’msorry，butdinner’sready。"
　　"Idon’twantanydinner;IthinkI’llgotobed。"
　　Thefrownbetweenhisbrowsdeepened。
　　"Youshouldn’tlockyourdoor，Nollie:Iwasquitefrightened。I
　　wentroundtothehospitaltobringyouhome，andtheytoldmeaboutyourfainting。Iwantyoutoseeadoctor。"
　　Noelshookherheadvigorously。"Oh，no！It’snothing！"
　　"Nothing？Tofaintlikethat？Come，mychild。Topleaseme。"Hetookherfaceinhishands。Noelshrankaway。
　　"No，Daddy。Iwon’tseeadoctor。Extravaganceinwartime！I
　　won’t。It’snogoodtryingtomakeme。I’llcomedownifyoulike;
　　Ishallbeallrightto—morrow。"
　　WiththisPiersonhadtobecontent;but，oftenthatevening，shesawhimlookingatheranxiously。Andwhenshewentup，hecameoutofhisstudy，followedtoherroom，andinsistedonlightingherfire。
　　Kissingheratthedoor，hesaidveryquietly:
　　"IwishIcouldbeamothertoyou，mychild！"
　　ForamomentitflashedthroughNoel:’Heknows！’then，bythepuzzledlookonhisface，sheknewthathedidnot。Ifonlyhedidknow;whataweightitwouldbeoffhermind！Butsheansweredquietlytoo;"Goodnight，Daddydear！"kissedhim，andshutthedoor。
　　Shesatdownbeforethelittlenewfire，andspreadherhandsouttoit;allwassocoldandwintryinherheart。Andthefirelightflickeredonherface，whereshadowslaythickunderhereyes，foralltheroundnessofhercheeks，andonherslimpalehands，andthesupplegraceofheryoungbody。Andoutinthenight，cloudsracedoverthemoon，whichhadcomefulloncemore。