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with an unmoved countenance。
〃Yes； miss； they are for sale。 The ring is four pounds and the
watch twenty…five。〃
〃Twenty…nine pounds！〃 Helen gasped。
That was more money than she had in the world； but the fact did
not distress her； for she had a true artistic disregard for ready
money； and the absence of it had never disturbed her。 But now it
assumed a sudden and alarming value。 She had ten pounds in her
purse and ten pounds at her studiothese were just enough to pay
for a quarter's rent and the rates； and there was a hat and cloak
in Bond Street which she certainly must have。 Her only assets
consisted of the possibility that some one might soon order a
miniature； and to her mind that was sufficient。 Some one always
had ordered a miniature； and there was no reasonable doubt but
that some one would do it again。 For a moment she questioned if
it would not be sufficient if she bought the ring and allowed the
watch to remain。 But she recognized that the ring meant more to
her than the watch； while the latter； as an old heirloom which
had been passed down to him from a great…grandfather； meant
more to Philip。 It was for Philip she was doing this； she
reminded herself。 She stood holding his possessions； one in each
hand； and looking at the young woman blankly。 She had no doubt
in her mind that at least part of the money he had received for
them had paid for the flowers he had sent to her in Scotland。
The certainty of this left her no choice。 She laid the ring and
watch down and pulled the only ring she possessed from her own
finger。 It was a gift from Lady Gower。 She had no doubt that it
was of great value。
〃Can you lend me some money on that？〃 she asked。 It was the
first time she had conducted a business transaction of this
nature； and she felt as though she were engaging in a burglary。
〃We don't lend money； miss；〃 the girl said； 〃we buy outright。 I
can give you twenty…eight shillings for this；〃 she added。
〃Twenty…eight shillings；〃 Helen gasped； 〃why； it is worthoh；
ever so much more than that！〃
〃That is all it is worth to us；〃 the girl answered。 She regarded
the ring indifferently and laid it away from her on the counter。
The action was final。
Helen's hands rose slowly to her breast； where a pretty watch
dangled from a bowknot of crushed diamonds。 It was her only
possession； and she was very fond of it。 It also was the gift of
one of the several great ladies who had adopted her since her
residence in London。 Helen had painted a miniature of this
particular great lady which had looked so beautiful that the
pleasure which the original of the portrait derived from the
thought that she still really looked as she did in the miniature
was worth more to her than many diamonds。
But it was different with Helen； and no one could count what it
cost her to tear away her one proud possession。
〃What will you give me for this？〃 she asked defiantly。
The girl's eyes showed greater interest。 〃I can give you twenty
pounds for that；〃 she said。
〃Take it； please；〃 Helen begged； as though she feared if she
kept it a moment longer she might not be able to make the
sacrifice。
〃That will be enough now；〃 she went on； taking out her ten…pound
note。 She put Lady Gower's ring back upon her finger and picked
up Philip's ring and watch with the pleasure of one who has come
into a great fortune。 She turned back at the door。
〃Oh；〃 she stammered； 〃in case any one should inquire； you are not
to say who bought these。〃
〃No； miss； certainly not；〃 said the woman。 Helen gave the
direction to the cabman and； closing the doors of the hansom； sat
looking down at the watch and the ring； as they lay in her lap。
The thought that they had been his most valued possessions； which
he had abandoned forever； and that they were now entirely hers；
to do with as she liked； filled her with most intense delight and
pleasure。 She took up the heavy gold ring and placed it on the
little finger of her left hand； it was much too large； and she
removed it and balanced it for a moment doubtfully in the palm of
her right hand。 She was smiling； and her face was lit with
shy and tender thoughts。 She cast a quick glance to the left and
right as though fearful that people passing in the street would
observe her； and then slipped the ring over the fourth finger of
her left hand。 She gazed at it with a guilty smile and then；
covering it hastily with her other hand； leaned back； clasping it
closely； and sat frowning far out before her with puzzled eyes。
To Carroll all roads led past Helen's studio； and during the
summer； while she had been absent in Scotland it was one of his
sad pleasures to make a pilgrimage to her street and to pause
opposite the house and look up at the empty windows of her rooms。
It was during this daily exercise that he learned； through the
arrival of her luggage； of her return to London； and when day
followed day without her having shown any desire to see him or to
tell him of her return he denounced himself most bitterly as a
fatuous fool。
At the end of the week he sat down and considered his case quite
calmly。 For three years he had loved this girl； deeply and
tenderly。 He had been lover； brother； friend； and guardian。
During that time； even though she had accepted him in every
capacity except as that of the prospective husband； she had never
given him any real affection； nor sympathy； nor help； all she had
done for him had been done without her knowledge or intent。 To
know her； to love her； and to scheme to give her pleasure had
been its own reward； and the only one。 For the last few months
he had been living like a crossing…sweeper in order to be able to
stay in London until she came back to it； and that he might still
send her the gifts he had always laid on her altar。 He had not
seen her in three months。 Three months that had been to him a
blank； except for his workwhich like all else that he did； was
inspired and carried on for her。 Now at last she had returned
and had shown that； even as a friend； he was of so little account
in her thoughts； of so little consequence in her life； that after
this long absence she had no desire to learn of his welfare or to
see himshe did not even give him the chance to see her。 And
so； placing these facts before him for the first time since
he had loved her； he considered what was due to himself。 〃Was it
good enough？〃 he asked。 〃Was it just that he should continue to
wear out his soul and body for this girl who did not want what he
had to give； who treated him less considerately than a man whom
she met for the first time at dinner？ He felt he had reached the
breaking…point； that the time had come when he must consider what
he owed to himself。 There could never be any other woman save
Helen； but as it was not to be Helen； he could no longer； with
self…respect； continue to proffer his love only to see it
slighted and neglected。 He was humble enough concerning himself；
but of his love he was very proud。 Other men could give her more
in wealth or position； but no one could ever love her as he did。
〃He that hath more let him give；〃 he had often quoted to