Sara was cheered by his statement. If his absorption was simply in his flying machine, she could wait. Men always returned finally from machines to femininity. So Justin flew and flew, looking down at times upon the tops of the houses in the quaint coast towns, at other times having beneath him and above him blue sea and blue sky. And everywhere he went, he knew that people were craning their necks and crying out in wonder, for in this part of the world, at least, such aerial craft were rare visitors. And when he grew tired of great heights, he would let his shining ship slide down the air currents until it touched the water; then like a mammoth aquatic bird it would swim the surface, and the sailors on the big yachts would lean out over the sides and hail him, and the motor boats would follow him, until, at last, growing impatient of their close observance, he would rise again, higher and higher in the golden haze; earth would be left behind, and he would be alone with his thoughts. And he thought always of Bettina. He thought of her as he had first seen her, in the shadowy room, with her shabby black dress and her white and gold beauty. He thought of her as she had come toward him under the lilacs, a flower among the flowers. Again he saw her dancing, like a wraith, in the moonlight; he saw her, in the little blue serge frock and shady hat, measuring him with her cool eyes; and again, laying plates on the flapping cloth with white hands, or racing with him against the wildness of the storm. He saw her with her fair wet braids hanging to her knees, and her slender fingers twisting among the gold. He saw her with the light of the harness-room fire upon her as she promised to be his friend. But most of all he saw her as she had been that last night in the great library, frail and white in her floating draperies. "You have spoiled everything," she had said. How had he spoiled everything? In one moment he would resolve to have it out with her. In the next he would plan to go away, to give her up, to forget her. A few weeks ago he had not known her. He had liked many women, but had loved none. He had been heart-whole and fancy free. And now his life, his happiness, all of his future, were bound up in this little pale child with the wonderful hair! Up and up, higher and higher. It was like the flight of an eagle. And far below, on a porch which overhung the harbor, two women watched with beating hearts. "Oh, why will he do it?" Sophie asked, in agonized tones. "It is so dangerous." Bettina caught her breath. "Somehow I can't think of the danger," she said. "He isn't afraid, and to me it seems--very wonderful--as if he had wings, and could fly--straight up--to heaven----" As Justin had thought all that week of Bettina, so she had thought of him; every moment of the day, and into the night, the vision was upon her.