Miss Claes glanced at her wistfully a moment, her lips faintly smiling. The girl’s face had never been so lovely to her. It was like land that has had its rains after long waiting--soft blooms starting, an earthy sweetness rising in the washed sunlight. The beginnings of both laughter and tears were in Pidge’s wide eyes; her red-brown hair, from which the henna was long forgotten, had an easy restful gleam in its coils. “Why, Pidge,” Miss Claes said at last, “you’re like one who has been born again. It’s wonderful. I had almost forgotten what that love does to a woman, at first--for a little, little time.” “And you knew that kind of love--with the English boy?” “Yes.” “And Nagar knows.” “Yes.” Pidge shivered. “... Rufe brings the fight to me, makes every undone thing rise and live! He brings the most terrible disappointments, the crudest disorder, yet that which would pay for it all, if I were just a simple peasant woman, is denied. Why can’t we shut the door and just live? Why can’t there be a kingdom for two?” The form was soft and gliding in Miss Claes’ arms. The square-shouldered little figure of the mill and office girl had become almost eloquent with its emotional power. After a moment Pidge straightened, her face staring into Miss Claes’. “Why don’t you answer?” “I can only say, Pidge, you are called to learn the next step, the next lesson in what love means. You want the love that has two ends, but the Triangle is ready for you. Oh, many are learning the mystery of the Triangle. It hurts so at first, but it lets the world in--the bigger meanings of life.” Pidge shivered again. “Is it blasphemy,” she asked, “that I feel just as close to Dicky Cobden--as ever?” “No more than the finding of bread would spoil your taste for water.” * * * * * Pidge said at last: “Oh, I don’t want to leave this house, Miss Claes. He says he’ll come here, too.” “I’ve been thinking of putting a bathroom on the third floor. There’s a tiny empty room like yours across the hall. The bath shall be installed there. You know I’ve kept Nagar’s room empty. It is pleasant and larger than yours. I’ll have a door cut through the partition, and with a bath across the hall you will do well enough for a time.” “You would give us Nagar’s room?” “Nagar has the key to the whole house,” said Miss Claes. * * * * * Moments afterward, Pidge’s strong fingers closed over the hands of the other. “No one can know how it hurts me--to think of Dicky----” “He is with Nagar now.” “Do you think--can it be possible that Nagar will help him--as you help me?” “Nagar and the Little Man,” said Miss Claes. XXV “BE IT EVER SO HUMBLE”