"I wonder if the process of making one's soul is a painful one, after all? Like most new-born creatures, I expect it's a delicate, sensitive thing at first, easily wounded by a word, a glance.... I don't suppose it has a very joyful time in the beginning, struggling towards the fuller light like a weak, fragile little flower opening its petals one by one to the sun. But luckily a soul is a very vital thing. It can stand a good deal in the way of unkindness or neglect without shrivelling up. And I daresay a few kindly words, a sympathetic thought, are like water to a dying plant--or as the Bible has it 'as the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.'" As he finished his speech Owen broke in impetuously: "Don't say any more, Herrick. My God, what a fool I've been! To think that all this was taking place beneath my eyes and I was too blind, too self-absorbed to see." "Well, everyone is blind, at times," said Herrick gently. "I'm not trying to make you unhappy, Rose--the whole affair is no business of mine, and you may well resent my interference." "No, no," said Owen hastily. "God knows your interference is only too justifiable. But----" "Perhaps I am to blame, after all, for trying to engineer so delicate a situation. The fact is, I felt a great pity for Mrs. Rose. She was only a girl after all, and girlhood is a lively, careless, light-hearted period. But although her soul appeared--then--to be unawakened, I knew it was there all the time; and I confess I hoped that when she came into full possession of it you would draw nearer to one another, and a better understanding would ensue. But----" He paused. "Well? Your plan hasn't worked?" "I don't know. The thing is, not so much _where_ has Mrs. Rose gone, but _why_ did she go? Look here, Rose. I'm perfectly certain that her one thought all through has been for your welfare; and though on the face of it it seems peculiar that she should take this means of proving her love for you, I'm quite convinced she is acting on your behalf in this odd disappearance of hers." "But how could I benefit by her disappearance?" "I don't know. But I am quite sure----" He broke off suddenly, and the next instant the two men started to their feet as the hoot of a motor-horn sounded loudly outside the house. "God, Herrick--here's Toni." Owen dashed out of the room followed by Herrick, and the two reached the front door at the same moment. Andrews, who had come running from the kitchen regions at the sound of the horn, flung open the door, and disclosed the big car with its flaring head-lamps, throbbing itself to a standstill at the foot of the steps. A young man jumped out--a man whom neither Rose nor Herrick had ever seen before--and, rushing up the steps, looked wildly round him. "Where is she?" he demanded loudly. "Where is she?"