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Yet, when she had opened the door, she could not even speak And Clay,

too, after one long look at her, only held out his ar time, indeed, before they found any words at all Audrey was the

first, and what she said astounded her For she said: "What a dreadful noise outside"

And Clay responded, with equal gravity: "Yes, isn't it!"

Then he took off his overcoat and put it down, and placed his hat on the

table, and said, very simply: "I couldn't stay away I tried to"

"You hadn't a chance in the world, Clay, when I illing you to

come"

Then there was one of those silences which come ords have shown

their absolute absurdity It see, Audrey And I have failed once"

"It takes two to make a failure," she said dauntlessly "I--wouldn't let

you fail again, Clay Not if you love rotesque position that

is only absurd to the on-looker, on his knees beside her His terrible

self-consciousness was gone He only knew that, somehow, some way, he

must prove to her his huain, his hope that together they ht make up for the wasted

years of their lives "I worship you," he said