Throwing hat and stick upon the couch, he went directly to her chair, knelt beside it, gathered her to him. She yielded with a sedate yet warm tenderness perhaps the more sincere today because of a conscience stricken by the memory of her late disloyalty of thought. And something of her fond gravity and gentleness penetrated and sobered his own mood. He held her very close for many minutes. But when he drew back at arm's-length to worship her with his eyes, she turned her head aside quickly, if not quickly enough to deceive him. He was instant to detect the glimmer of tears in her long lashes, the childish tremor of her sweet lips, and again drew her to him. "My dearest one!" he whispered with infinite gentleness and solicitude. "What is it? Tell me." "Nothing," she breathed brokenly in return. "Nothing--only--I guess--I'm a little blue--lonely without you, dear. I'm afraid I need either to be at work or--with you always." "Then be comforted, sweetest girl; the time won't be long, now--I believe in my very soul." "Till when--?" She leaned back in her chair, examining his face with eyes that shone with infectious fire of his confident excitement. "Till when? What do you mean? Something has happened!" "You're right," he laughed exultantly: "two big things have happened to me today. Wylie has accepted 'Tomorrow's People': we signed the contract this afternoon; he's to put it on about the first of the year." "Oh, I'm so glad!" "But that isn't all: Algerson has bought Rideout's contract and is to produce 'The Jade God' in Los Angeles as soon as it can be got ready." "Dearest!" There was an interval.... "Only," he said presently, "it's going to mean a little real loneliness for you, dear--not more than a few weeks--" "Why?" she demanded sharply. "Because I've promised Algerson to superintend the rehearsals. I couldn't well refuse. You know how much it means to us, dear heart." "When do you leave?" "Monday--the Twentieth Century Limited for Chicago then on to Los Angeles." "And you'll be gone, altogether, how long?" Joan persisted tensely. "With good luck, about a month. If we strike a snag, of course, I may have to stop over a week or so longer. It's hard to say." "Then I'm to be left--here--alone--with nothing to do but wait--perhaps more than a month!" "I'm afraid so, dear. It's for both of our sakes. So much depends--" "Jack!" Placing her hands on his shoulders, Joan held him off. "Take me with you," she pleaded earnestly. "Think a moment, sweetheart. You must see how impossible it is. For one thing, it wouldn't--O it's all very well to say 'Conventions be hanged!' but--it wouldn't look right. We're not married." "Take me with you, Jack," she repeated stubbornly. He shook his head. "And, fairly and squarely, dear, I can't afford it. I haven't got enough money. Even if we were married, I'd have to leave you here."