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arrived within the last month at various country houses。 She
felt indignant at herself； and miserable。 Her indignation was
largely due to the recollection that she had given these flowers
to her hostess to decorate the dinner…table。
She hated to ask this girl of things which she should have known
better than any one else。 But she forced herself to do it。 She
felt she must know certainly and at once。
〃How do you know this？〃 she asked。 〃Are you sure there is no
mistake？〃
〃He told me himself；〃 said Marion； 〃when he talked of letting the
plays go and returning to America。 He said he must go back；
that his money was gone。〃
〃He is gone to America！〃 Helen said； blankly。
〃No； he wanted to go； but I wouldn't let him；〃 Marion went on。
〃I told him that some one might take his play any day。 And this
third one he has written； the one he finished this summer in
town； is the best of all； I think。 It's a love…story。 It's
quite beautiful。〃 She turned and arranged her veil at the glass；
and as she did so； her eyes fell on the photographs of herself
scattered over the mantelpiece； and she smiled slightly。 But
Helen did not see hershe was sitting down now； pulling at the
books on the table。 She was confused and disturbed by emotions
which were quite strange to her； and when Marion bade her good…by
she hardly noticed her departure。 What impressed her most of all
in what Marion had told her； was； she was surprised to find； that
Philip was going away。 That she herself had frequently urged him
to do so； for his own peace of mind； seemed now of no
consequence。 Now that he seriously contemplated it； she
recognized that his absence meant to her a change in
everything。 She felt for the first time the peculiar place he
held in her life。 Even if she had seen him but seldom； the fact
that he was within call had been more of a comfort and a
necessity to her than she understood。
That he was poor； concerned her chiefly because she knew that；
although this condition could only be but temporary； it would
distress him not to have his friends around him； and to entertain
them as he had been used to do。 She wondered eagerly if she
might offer to help him； but a second thought assured her that；
for a man； that sort of help from a woman was impossible。
She resented the fact that Marion was deep in his confidence；
that it was Marion who had told her of his changed condition and
of his plans。 It annoyed her so acutely that she could not
remain in the room where she had seen her so complacently in
possession。 And after leaving a brief note for Philip； she went
away。 She stopped a hansom at the door； and told the man to
drive along the Embankmentshe wanted to be quite alone； and she
felt she could see no one until she had thought it all out；
and had analyzed the new feelings。
So for several hours she drove slowly up and down； sunk far back
in the cushions of the cab； and staring with unseeing eyes at the
white enamelled tariff and the black dash…board。
She assured herself that she was not jealous of Marion； because；
in order to be jealous； she first would have to care for Philip
in the very way she could not bring herself to do。
She decided that his interest in Marion hurt her； because it
showed that Philip was not capable of remaining true to the one
ideal of his life。 She was sure that this explained her
feelingsshe was disappointed that he had not kept up to his own
standard； that he was weak enough to turn aside from it for the
first pretty pair of eyes。 But she was too honest and too just
to accept that diagnosis of her feelings as finalshe knew there
had been many pairs of eyes in America and in London； and that
though Philip had seen them； he had not answered them when they
spoke。 No； she confessed frankly； she was hurt with herself
for neglecting her old friend so selfishly and for so long a
time； his love gave him claims on her consideration； at least；
and she had forgotten that and him； and had run after strange
gods and allowed others to come in and take her place； and to
give him the sympathy and help which she should have been the
first to offer； and which would have counted more when coming
from her than from any one else。 She determined to make amends
at once for her thoughtlessness and selfishness； and her brain
was pleasantly occupied with plans and acts of kindness。 It was
a new entertainment； and she found she delighted in it。 She
directed the cabman to go to Solomons's； and from there sent
Philip a bunch of flowers and a line saying that on the following
day she was coming to take tea with him。 She had a guilty
feeling that he might consider her friendly advances more
seriously than she meant them； but it was her pleasure to be
reckless： her feelings were running riotously； and the sensation
was so new that she refused to be circumspect or to consider
consequences。 Who could tell； she asked herself with a
quick； frightened gasp； but that； after all； it might be that she
was learning to care？ From Solomons's she bade the man drive to
the shop in Cranbourne Street where she was accustomed to
purchase the materials she used in painting； and Fate； which uses
strange agents to work out its ends； so directed it that the
cabman stopped a few doors below this shop； and opposite one
where jewelry and other personal effects were bought and sold。
At any other time； or had she been in any other mood； what
followed might not have occurred； but Fate； in the person of the
cabman； arranged it so that the hour and the opportunity came
together。
There were some old mezzotints in the window of the loan shop； a
string of coins and medals； a row of new French posters； and far
down to the front a tray filled with gold and silver cigarette…
cases and watches and rings。 It occurred to Helen； who was still
bent on making restitution for her neglect； that a cigarette…case
would be more appropriate for a man than flowers； and more
lasting。 And she scanned the contents of the window with the
eye of one who now saw in everything only something which might
give Philip pleasure。 The two objects of value in the tray upon
which her eyes first fell were the gold seal…ring with which
Philip had sealed his letters to her； and； lying next to it； his
gold watch！ There was something almost human in the way the ring
and watch spoke to her from the pastin the way they appealed to
her to rescue them from the surroundings to which they had been
abandoned。 She did not know what she meant to do with them nor
how she could return them to Philip； but there was no question of
doubt in her manner as she swept with a rush into the shop。
There was no attempt； either； at bargaining in the way in which
she pointed out to the young woman behind the counter the
particular ring and watch she wanted。 They had not been left as
collateral； the young woman said； they had been sold outright。
〃Then any one can buy them？〃 Helen asked eagerly。 〃They are for
sale to the publicto any one？〃
The young woman made note of the customer's eagerness； but
with an unmoved countenance。
〃Yes； miss； they are for sale。 The ring is four pounds and