"The voyage will do you good," he said, in the same affectionate concern. "The maid will meet us on the pier. And once in London, you'll be the centre of the crowd." "Fancy! And Electra shall come over from Paris, and you'll make love to me, to shock her. Billy, isn't it queer I didn't dream of Charlie Grant this morning?" "Why, Florrie? Why should you?" "Because they were all there, crowds of them I haven't told you about. But not he. I suppose he was with Bessie Grant. Billy, it was when I gave him up, my life went wrong." "Yes, dear, you told me so." "It wasn't that I couldn't bear to lose him. I never broke my heart. It was because I made a bad choice,--a bad choice. I said deliberately I wanted the world and the things the world can give. Everything began when I gave him up." "Time's going, Florrie. The parson will be there." "Yes. Don't hurry me. Do you suppose we find things because we believe in them?" "What things, dear?" "Will Bessie Grant have heaven because she believes in it? Will she find him because she thinks he's there?" "Come, dear, wake up." "Well!" The old lady roused herself. The light came back to her eyes, the old smile to her lips. "I'll tell you what, Billy," said she, "there's one thing I swear I never will forget. Living or dying, I never will." "What is it?" "I never'll forget you saw me an old woman and treated me like a young one. I never'll forget you did your best to bring back my lost youth. And if there is a heaven and I set foot in it, and they bring up their archangels, I'll say, 'Away with you and your fine company. Where's Billy Stark?'" But the light faded as she spoke and her face changed mysteriously, in a way he did not like. A clever thought came to him. "Florrie," said he, "have you had your luncheon?" "I guess not." "Have you been sitting here ever since Electra went, dreaming and starving?" "I guess so." "Well, that's it. Now you get on your two feet and take my arm and come over to Bessie Grant's. And she'll give you food and coffee. Bless us, Florrie, we're not going to own we miss Electra's patent foods as early in the game as this!" She smiled at him. "I believe I am hungry, Billy," she owned. "That's why I had my dream. They always have visions fasting. But it was a beautiful dream. I wish I could have it again." "You wait a minute. I'm going to get you a nip of brandy." She was rising, and he put her back into her chair. "I know where it is." He hurried down the path, but her voice recalled him sharply. "Billy, come back. Don't leave me." He returned to her, where she had risen and was standing tremulously. That same dire change was on her face, as if old age had passed a sponge over it. Her eyes regarded him, in a keen questioning. "What is it, Billy?" she whispered. "What's coming?" He put her into her chair, and she said again, "Don't leave me." "I must." There were tears in his kind eyes. "Let me go one minute, dear. I'll get you something."