They looked at one another. Katherine bowed her head. She had still to bite her lips that she might not cry, but she looked very proud. “Perhaps,” she said, very softly, “that one day you will want—you will feel—At least I shall not change. I will come whenever you want me. I will always care the same. One day I will come back, Mother dear.” Her mother said only: “It is better that we should not meet.” Katherine walked to the door. As she passed her mother she looked at her. Her eyes made one last prayer—then they were veiled. She left the house. * * * * * A quarter of an hour later Henry came into the room, and found his Mother seated at her desk, plans and papers in front of her. He could hear her saying to herself: “Fifteen—by fourteen.... The rockery _there_—Five steps, then the door.... Fifteen pounds four shillings and sixpence....” Katherine was not there. He knew that she had been rejected. His mother showed no signs of discomposure. Their interview must have been very short. He went to the window and stood there, looking out. In a moment Rocket would come and draw the blinds. Rundle Square swam in the last golden light. Tiny flakes of colour spun across the pale blue that was almost white. They seemed to whirl before Henry’s eyes. He was sorry, terribly sorry, that Katherine had failed, but he was filled to-day with a triumphant sense of the glory and promise of life. He had been liberated, and Katherine had been liberated. Freedom, with its assurances for all the world, flamed across the darkening skies. Life seemed endless: its beckoning drama called to him. The anticipation of the glory of life caught him by the throat so that he could scarcely breathe.... At that moment in the upstairs room old Mr. Trenchard, suddenly struggling for breath, tried to call out, failed, fell back, on to his pillow, dead. THE END =_Books by_ HUGH WALPOLE= _NOVELS_ THE WOODEN HORSE THE GODS AND MR. PERRIN THE DARK FOREST THE SECRET CITY THE CATHEDRAL * * * * * _The London Novels_ FORTITUDE THE DUCHESS OF WREXE THE GREEK MIRROR THE CAPTIVES THE YOUNG ENCHANTED * * * * * _Phantasies_ MARADICK AT FORTY THE PRELUDE TO ADVENTURE * * * * * _BOOKS ABOUT CHILDREN_ THE GOLDEN SCARECROW JEREMY JEREMY AND HAMLET