she held success in her hand, as a woman may hold a jewel and say, "It is mine!" A slight buzzing sound told her that there was someone at the outer door of the lobby. In a moment Susan walked in, looking as usual temperate, kind, and absolutely unconscious of herself. She was warmly wrapped in a fur given to her by Mrs. Shiffney. When she had taken it off and sat down beside Charmian in the over-heated room, Charmian began at once to use her as a receptacle. She proceeded to pour her exultation into Susan. The rehearsal had greatly excited her. She was full of the ardent impatience of one who had been patient by force of will in defiance of natural character, and who now felt that a period was soon to be put to her suffering and that she was to enter into her reward. As, long ago, in an Algerian garden, she had used Susan, she used her now. And Susan sat quietly listening, with her odd eyes dropping in their sockets. "Oh, Susan, do take off your gloves!" Charmian exclaimed presently. "You are going to stay a good while, aren't you?" "Yes, if you like me to." "I should like to be with you every day for hours. You do me good. We'll have tea." She went to the telephone, came back quickly, sat down again, and continued talking enthusiastically. When the tea-table was in front of her, and the elderly German waiter had gone, she said: "Isn't it wonderful? I shall never forget how you spoke of destiny to me when we were by the little island. It was then, I think, that I felt it was my fate to link myself with Claude, to help him on. Do you remember what you said?" "That perhaps it was designed that you should teach Mr. Heath." "Don't say mister--on such a day as this!" "Claude, then." "And, Susan, I don't want to seem vain, but I have taught him, I have taught him to know and rely on himself, to believe in himself, in his genius, to dominate. He's marvellously changed. Everyone notices it. You do, of course!" "There is a change. And I remember saying that perhaps it was designed that you should learn from him. Do you recollect that?" Charmian was handing Susan her tea-cup. "Oh--yes," she said. She looked at Susan as the latter took the cup with a calm and steady hand. "What excellent tea!" observed Susan. "Is it? Susan!" "Well?" "I believe you are very reserved." "No, I don't think so." "Yes, you keep half your thoughts about things and people entirely to yourself." "I think most of us do that." "About me, for instance! I've been talking a great deal to you in here. And you've been listening, and thinking." There was an uneasy sound in Charmian's voice. "Yes. Didn't you wish me to listen?" "I suppose I did. But you've been thinking. What have you been thinking?" "That it's a long journey up the ray," said Susan, with a sort of gentle firmness. "Ah--the ray! I remember your saying that to me long ago." "We've got a great deal to learn, I think, as well as to teach." Charmian was silent for a minute.