And so he went away from Spindrift House through a snow-storm, and arrived in New York late that evening; but not too late to call Valerie on the telephone and hear again the dear voice with its happy little cry of greeting--and the promise of to-morrow's meeting before the day of duty should begin. * * * * * Love grew as the winter sped glittering toward the far primrose dawn of spring; work filled their days; evening brought the happiness of a reunion eternally charming in its surprises, its endless novelty. New, forever new, love seemed; and youth, too, seemed immortal. On various occasions when Valerie chanced to be at his studio, pouring tea for him, friends of his sister came unannounced--agreeable women more or less fashionable, who pleaded his sister's sanction of an unceremonious call to see the great painted frieze before it was sent to the Court House. He was perfectly nice to them; and Valerie was perfectly at ease; and it was very plain that these people were interested and charmed with this lovely Miss West, whom they found pouring tea in the studio of an artist already celebrated; and every one of them expressed themselves and their curiosity to his sister, Mrs. Collis, who, never having heard of Valerie West, prudently conveyed the contrary in smiling but silent acquiescence, and finally wrote to her brother and told him what was being said. Before he determined to reply, another friend--or rather acquaintance of the Collis family--came in to see the picture--the slim and pretty Countess d'Enver. And went quite mad over Valerie--so much so that she remained for an hour talking to her, almost oblivious of Neville and his picture and of Ogilvy and Annan, who consumed time and cocktails in the modest background. When she finally went away, and Neville had returned from putting her into her over-elaborate carriage, Ogilvy said: "Gee, Valerie, you sure did make a hit with the lady. What was she trying to make you do?" "She asked me to come to a reception of the Five-Minute Club with Louis," said Valerie, laughing. "What _is_ the Five-Minute Club, Louis?" "Oh, it's a semi-fashionable, semi-artistic affair--one of the incarnations of the latest group of revolting painters and sculptors and literary people, diluted with a little society and a good deal of near-society." Later, as they were dining together at Delmonico's, he said: "Would you care to go, Valerie?" "Yes--if you think it best for us to accept such invitations together." "Why not?" "I don't know.... Considering what we are to become to each other--I thought--perhaps the prejudices of your friends--" He turned a dull red, said nothing for a moment, then, looking up at her, suddenly laid his hand over hers where it rested on the table's edge. "The world must take us as it finds us," he said. "I know; but is it quite fair to seek it?"