till she moved back the curtain and stepped out. Then he half remembered something--and looked at his watch--he had promised Rosalind to wait for the boys and take them to the dentist’s. She had said she could not go this afternoon and he had promised to wait at the office; he had not meant to come here.... He slipped back the watch and stood up and hesitated--and turned away. He might never see her now. Well, he had promised Rosalind. Somehow, the promise to Rosalind must be kept--now. The letter of the law must be kept! ***** They were waiting for him in the hall by his office door, sitting at the top of the flight of stairs and peering down into the elevator-shaft as the elevator shot up and down. He saw them as he stepped out, and smiled at them. They were fresh, wholesome boys, and he had a sense, as he fitted the key in the lock and they stood waiting behind his bent back, that they belonged to him. He had always thought of them as Rosalind’s boys! He threw open the door and they went in, looking about them almost shyly; they were not shy boys, but father was a big man--and they looked at the place where he worked.... Some time they would be--men and have an office.... Eldridge Walcott turned back from the desk that he had opened. He had taken out a little roll of paper and slipped it into his pocket. Their eyes followed him gravely. He looked at them standing--half in their world, half in his--and smiled to them. “You had to wait a good while, didn’t you?” he said. They nodded together. “Most an hour,” said Tommie. “Well, that’s all right--Something kept me. Come on.” When they reached home that evening he handed the little roll of paper he had taken from the desk to Rosalind. “I have doubled it,” he said. “There will be enough for everything you want.” For a minute she did not speak. Then she took it. “Thank you,” she said slowly. “I want you to get a suit, you know--a good one--” He paused. “--And you need something warm--a fur-lined wrap or something--don’t you?” She wrinkled the little line between her eyes. “It is--so late--the winter is half gone already.” Then her face cleared. “I think I’ll--wait till spring,” she said. He could almost fancy something danced at him, mocked him behind the still face. He turned away, the deep, hurt feeling coming close. “Get what you like,” he said. “I want you to have enough.” The money lay in her hand, and her fingers opened on it and closed on it. Then she breathed softly, like a sigh, and went to her desk and put it away. VI