"I relied on sentiment and now I am going to rely on work; those are the only two alternatives offered to women, and the latter is so often denied to them. "I hope that it may, one day, give you pleasure to think that you once helped a girl to do the strong thing instead of the weak one. Of course, my love for Robin has died, and I see him clearly now without exaggeration. What happened was largely my fault--I spoilt him, I think, and helped his self-pride. I know that he has been passing through a bad time lately, and I am sure that he will come to you to help him out of it. He is a lucky fellow to have some one to help him like that--and then he will suddenly see that he has done a rather cruel thing. Poor Robin! he will make a fine man one day. "I have got a little secretaryship in London--nothing very big, but it will give me the work that I want; and, because you once said that you believed in me, I will try to justify your belief. There! that is sentiment, isn't it!--and I have flung sentiment away. Well, it is the last time! "Good-bye--I shall never forget. Thank you.-- Yours sincerely, DAHLIA FEVEREL." So perhaps, after all, Robin's mistakes had been for the good of all of them. Mistake was, indeed, a slight word for what he had done, and, thinking of it even now, Harry's anger rose. And she had been a nice girl, too, and a plucky one. He had answered her:-- "MY DEAR MISS FEVEREL--I was extremely pleased to get your letter. It is very good of you to speak as you have done about myself, but I assure you that what I did was of the smallest importance. It was because you had pluck yourself that you pulled through. You are quite right to fling away sentiment. I came back to England three weeks ago longing to call every man my brother. I thought that by a mere smile, a bending of the finger, the world was my friend for life. I soon found my mistake. Friendship is a very slow and gradual affair, and I distrust the mushroom growth profoundly. Life isn't easy in that kind of way; you and I have found that out together. "I wish you every success in your new life; I have no doubt whatever that you will get on, and I hope that you will let me hear sometimes from you. "Things have been happening quickly during the last few days. My father died this morning; he was himself glad to go, but I shall miss him terribly--he has been a most splendid friend to me during these weeks. Then I know that you will be interested to hear that I am engaged to Miss Bethel--you know her, do you not? I hope and believe that we shall be very happy. "As to Robin, he has, as you say, been having a bad time. To do him justice it has not been only the fear of the letters that has hung over him--he has also discovered a good many things about himself that have hurt and surprised him.