Mr. Cobden didn’t take out his own car that night. Perhaps he didn’t feel as if he could keep his mind on getting himself downtown. He sat back in the cushions of his mother’s limousine; and Conrad, whose career as Cobden coachman had changed to Cobden chauffeur nearly twenty years ago, handled the big box like a hearse. “Sit tight, Dicky,” he breathed, and never once urged Conrad forward. In fact, Dicky didn’t speak, until it became necessary to show the way a little, for Harrow Street is tricky to find from Washington Square. “Don’t wait--yes, you’d better wait, Conrad,” he called, crossing the walk to the door. The outer door was unlatched. He hurried up one flight. The same curtain, the white light. “Pidge----” She came forth from the inner room. She halted a few feet from him, and he saw her searching, imploring look. His shoulders straightened, his hands dropped to his side. The finer elements of his understanding sensed the great need of a woman, which his brain did not actually register. To answer her need in action, however, was instantly more dominant within him than his thirst for herself. She came a step nearer. Light was filling her eyes--the shining of an almost incredible hope. “Oh, Dicky, you can! I believe you can!” “Yes?” She was nearer. “And I can come and rest--a little?” “Yes, Pidge----” “I want to rest so badly, you know.” She had come to him under the light. “... And, oh, since I knew you were coming, everything has been different. I haven’t been _me_ at all! I’ve never played--and now everything--all work--is silly, unimportant. Dicky, everything seems to be done!” “I’m on the job, Pidge; you can play----” “Until I find myself--you--you will stand for two?” “Of course, Pidge.” “All my things, your things, Dicky--so I can rush away and breathe?” “That’s what I’m here for.” “Rufe Melton and my father and the desk--all yours?” “And the baby, too, Pidge.” “Dicky--Dicky--don’t dare to look! I’m going to cry!” “... Since your telegram from San Francisco--it seemed I could hardly stay alive! Oh, it’s so good to rest!” “Not a hurry in the world!” “Everything seemed done--and no place for me!... Rufe and a rich girl uptown--oh, they’re in full blossom and he wants to be free! My father caught on in New York--no need now for me. _The Public Square_ on the high road at last; your Amritsar story capturing the whole field; nothing to do but to feed the presses more and more; Miss Claes gone, and the Legacy--oh, Dicky, I saw your hand back of that! I couldn’t miss it. It touched me--touched me----” “It was his idea first, Pidge. All I had to do was to help him carry it out.” “All happened at once--all the strains lifted--no one depending--no one needing me!... I’ve been dying to be a woman just once. I’ve never dared--never had time. It’s so terrible to feel like a woman and not be able----” “Why not now, Pidge?”