“I can’t stand it!” he told her. “It’s too much--it’s breaking her heart. And it’s--too much for me. Sensible or not, it doesn’t matter. You’re a woman, you ought to understand. I--I beg you to help us. To--have pity. I ... I’m not much good at talking--but if you knew how I--care for Frankie, and what she is to me.... We--it’s not right, by Jove! It’s not _right_ for us to be separated. I’m no good without her. I need her. If I have her with me, I’m sure I can amount to something. But not alone. I’m no good without her,” he repeated. In the twilight he couldn’t see her face, but her voice, when she replied, was not unsympathetic. “I’ll see,” she said, “I’ll think.” “No!” he answered, with unusual decision, “Please decide now. I can’t wait. I can’t stand another night. If you’ll lend me five dollars more, I’ll go to her to-morrow morning.” “I haven’t got it now. I don’t get my week’s salary until to-morrow.” “And you’ll let me have it then?” “I--oh, yes, I will!” she answered, with a sort of sob. “You’re a brick--Minnie!” he cried, joyfully, and seized her warm little hand. “Sister Minnie! I won’t forget this!” And hastened off to send a telegram to Frankie. “_Coming to-morrow._ LIONEL.” Minnie walked home very slowly. In the evenings she always played cards with the old lady from the time when she woke up from her after-dinner nap until eleven. This evening was just as usual. During the nap, which was never mentioned, Minnie sat looking over the morning paper, a decorous and sober little figure; then, when the querulous old voice suggested a game, she rose with well-paid cheerfulness, brought out the pack and the folding table, played conscientiously and amiably, led the old lady upstairs at the proper time, said “Good-night,” fetched her a glass of water, and then was free. She retired to her own little room, locked the door after her, and stood still in the dark, with clenched hands. “She shan’t have him!” she whispered. “I won’t give him up! I won’t! I won’t!” Lionel didn’t suspect the effect his innocent grey eyes had had upon that heart, never before touched! But _she_ had been fully aware, from the first time she had seen him. It was too startling and intense a feeling to be mistaken. She had made up her mind then. He was the one man on earth for her. She had never even fancied herself in love before, and never did again. It was her unique passion. She didn’t deceive herself. She admitted that she intended to get Lionel away from Frankie by hook or by crook. Of course, being Minnie, she felt that it would be for his good and for Frankie’s good, and that she was doing it largely for their sakes. She and she alone was the infallible judge of what was best for everyone on earth. She had no misgivings on that score. Her only anxiety lay in her knowledge that Lionel was not at all attracted by her, and that, left to himself, he never would be. She wasn’t the sort of woman he liked.