Beatrice nodded, and letting the heavy head sink back among the cushions, came over to Lois' side. "How brave you are!" she said in a whisper. "You seem so cool and collected, just as though you believed your sandwiches would ever be eaten!" "I am not braver than you are. Look how steady your hand is--much steadier than mine." Beatrice held out her white hand and studied it thoughtfully. "I am not afraid," she said, "but not because I am brave. There is no room for fear, that is all." She paused an instant, and then suddenly the hand fell on Lois'. The two women looked at each other. "Lois, I am so sorry." "For me?" "For you and every one. I have hurt so many. It has all been my fault. I would give ten lives if I had them to see the harm undone. But that isn't possible. Oh, Lois, there is surely nothing worse than helpless remorse!" The hand within her own tightened in its clasp. "Is it ever helpless, though?" "I can't give the dead life--I can't give back a man's faith, can I?" The light of understanding deepened in Lois' eyes. "Beatrice--I believe I know!" "Yes, I see you do. Do you despise me? What does it matter if you do? It has been my fear of the world and its opinion that helped to lead me wrong. Isn't it a just punishment? I have ruined both our lives. Lois, I couldn't help hearing what Captain Nicholson said to you. It explained what you said to me about building on the ruins of the past. That was what he did--he built a beautiful palace on me--and I wrecked it. I failed him." "Have you really failed him?" "Lois, I don't know--I am beginning to believe not. But it is too late. I meant to clear away the rubbish--and build. But there is no time." "You have done your best." "Oh, if I could only save him, Lois! He was the first man I had ever met whom I trusted, the first to trust me. I owe him everything, the little that is good in me. It had to come to life when he believed in it so implicitly. And he owes me ruin, outward and inward ruin." Lois made no answer. With a warm, impulsive gesture she put her arms about the taller woman's neck and, drawing the beautiful face down to her own, kissed her. Beatrice responded, and thus a friendship was sealed--not for life but for death, whose grim cordon was with every moment being drawn closer about them.