"I’m sorry, Jim; I know you’re all right; and I’m—all wrong ... all wrong——" "Come to the studio to-morrow. Will you, Harry?" whispered Cleland. But Belter shook his head, continuing on his way to the street. "I’ll expect you," added Cleland. "Come about noon!" The other made no sign that he had heard. *CHAPTER XXVI* Stephanie was awake with the sparrows the next morning, and her face betrayed not a trace of the pallour and fatigue which had made Helen a little anxious when she came into the studio after her interview with Cleland. "I never had such a sleep in my life!" she announced, sauntering into Helen’s room, already bathed and dressed, when at last she heard the latter’s bath running. "I feel about sixteen, Helen." "You look it, dear. What was the matter with you last night? Jim came about nine." "Did he?" said the girl, turning to conceal a smile. "What did you do to entertain him." "Talked about you," said Helen, watching her where she stood at the sunny window, absently pleating the sash curtains between idle fingers. "Was he edified?" "He seemed to be. When I changed the subject he went away." Stephanie, at the window, suddenly laughed outright, but her back remained turned. "Men are funny," she said. "Women are funnier, Steve." "What! Are _you_ a traitor to your sex?" "Sometimes," said Helen, absently. "I feel that my sex betrays me—and a few others of my own mind." Stephanie turned and looked at her, still laughing: "Like the Kiltie," she said, "you complain that the rest of the regiment is marching out of step with you." "There’s only a corporal’s guard of us in step to the music," smiled Helen.... "You’re looking radiant, Steve! I’ve never seen you as enchanting." "I feel like enchanting the world—like a sorceress all ready for business.... This is a wonderful day, Helen." "What are your engagements?" "Two lessons this morning.... I don’t know whether I’ll go. Luncheon with Oswald at Tinto’s. But it’s so stuffy there in June, and the summer garden is so grubby." "You’re not going, then?" "I don’t know. I don’t want to hurt his feelings," said the girl, reluctantly. Helen sat up, flung off the bed clothes, and swung her superb young body out of bed. "My bath’s running over. Sit there and talk, Steve——" But Stephanie turned to the window, her lips still edged with the same indefinable smile, and gazed at space through the netted squares of sunshine. Breakfast was served in the studio presently. Helen joined her in bathrobe and slippers, knotting the belt around her waist. "I’m wonderfully hungry," exclaimed Stephanie. "It’s more than you’ve been for several weeks, Steve." Again the girl laughed, not meeting Helen’s glance. "What do you think of marriage?" she inquired presently. "I hope you haven’t the very horrid ideas of Harry Belter." "What are Harry’s ideas?"