Just as the world never plumbed the depths of dignity and purpose in Woman till it saw her chained to a railing, clasping the hated constable like a lover, a hoarse example to her sluggish sisters, so it can never realize her capacity for foolishness till it has seen her waiting through weary years, hoping against reason, the victim of illogical constancy to a mere young man. Sweet and gracious Ellen Berstoun, so slender and pretty and charming, wasting her fragrance in the old garden and the dark pine-woods for the sake of certain passionate memories and the most impractical of day-dreams, was a sight to make a philosopher despair. Undoubtedly Andrew's were the proper principles. CHAPTER III With the drawing in of dusk a thin mist stole up from the river and stealthily crept through the streets and lanes of Chelsea. It was not yet five o'clock, but on an afternoon in the depth of winter the little touch of fog converted dusk to darkness. The mist was not thick, but very cold and clammy, and in the zigzag lane the lamps were blurred and the shadows deep. Two people left a bus in the King's Road and turned down it. He was broad-shouldered, and swung along with a fine decided stride: she was trim and erect, and very quietly clad; her face was fresh and bright, a smile haunted her eyes, and her straight little nose seemed to breathe independence. "The air is beastly damp," said he. "I wish you'd let me bring you in a cab." "Nonsense, Lucas," she answered stoutly; "we neither of us can afford it. You must learn to be sensible." "But, my dear girl, I tell you I'm beginning to make money now." "Well, don't begin to spend it; and then perhaps you may have a little in the bank in a year or two." "A year or two!" he exclaimed; "I'll have enough in six months to--" She interrupted him briskly. "Lucas! Don't you remember we agreed that whichever of us said 'marry' first should be fined?" "I never agreed." "Then I shall break off the engagement." Yet she continued walking quickly by his side till they came to the studio. He took out his key, but she stopped short on the pavement with a fine air of decision. "I won't come in unless you promise to be more or less rational," she said. And then with the same air of decision she entered. After a few minutes' apparently unnecessary delay he lit the gas and she settled herself in the deck-chair while he filled the teapot. "Nursing is too heavy work for you," he said suddenly. "Don't be absurd," she smiled. He put down the teapot, took her by the shoulders, and looked into her eyes, at once critic and adorer. "Jean! You can't deceive me. It's my business to know how people sit when they are tired, and what signs in their faces show they are overworked. You are nearly dead beat." "Only--only a very little, Lucas," she said less stoutly. Her spirit was brave, but her feet were weary, and how her back ached! "I'm going to take you away from that infernal hospital," he announced.