Bruce worked at his plans for the Laconia memorial determinedly and, he hoped, with inspiration. He looked in at the Hardens’ on a Sunday afternoon and found Millicent entertaining several callow youths--new acquaintances whom she had met at the functions to which Mills’s cautious but effective propaganda had admitted her. Bruce did not remain long; he thought Millicent was amused by his poorly concealed disappointment at not finding her alone. But he was deriving little satisfaction from his self-denial in remaining away and grew desperate for a talk with her. He made his next venture on a wild March night, and broke forth in a pæan of thanksgiving when he found her alone in the library. “You were deliciously funny when you found me surrounded! Those were nice boys; they’d just discovered me!” “They had the look of determined young fiends! I knew I couldn’t stay them out. But I dare ’em to leave home on a night like this!” “Oh, I know! You’re afraid of competition! After you left that Sunday mamma brought in ginger cookies and we popped corn and had a grand old time!” “It sounds exciting. But it was food for the spirit I needed; I couldn’t have stood it to see them eat!” “Just for that our pantry is closed to you forever--never a cookie! Those boys were vastly pleased to meet you. They knew you as a soldier of the Republic and a crack handball player--not as an eminent architect. That for fame! By the way, you must be up to something mysterious. Dale gave me just a tiny hint that you’re working on something prodigious. But of course I don’t ask to be let into the secret!” “The secret’s permanent if I fail!” he laughed. He was conscious that their acquaintance had progressed in spite of their rare meetings. Tonight she played for him and talked occasionally from the organ--running comment on some liturgical music with which she had lately been familiarizing herself. Presently he found himself standing beside her; there seemed nothing strange in this--to be standing where he could watch her hands and know the thrill of her smile as she invited his appreciation of some passage that she was particularly enjoying.... “What have you been doing with your sculpting? Please bring me up to date on everything,” he said. “Oh, not so much lately. You might like to see some children’s heads I’ve been doing. I bring some of the little convalescents to the house from the hospital to give them a change.” “Lucky kids!” he said. “To be brought here and played with.” “Why not? They’re entitled to all I have as much as I am.” “Revolutionist! Really, Millicent, you must be careful!”