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"Table! As though tables ht like this!" Then with sudden self-reproach and quick solicitude: "Ao in now?"

"No, I' as the nine gods of your friend Porsena Besides, haven't I waited for this?" and under his breath, fiercely, "Haven't I waited!" he repeated, turning on her

"Do--do youher eyes

"No I knew you would not come on 'the first sunny day'"

"Why did you think I would not come? Did you know me for the coward I a to rest on his crutches He stood, balanced, staring dreaain her fascinated eyes ventured to rest on the worn, white face, listless, sombre in its fixedness

The tears were very near her eyes; the spasth she stammered: "I did not come b-because I simply couldn't stand it!"

His face cleared as he turned quietly: "Child, yousorry foraway on every clock in the world All that inverted order of things is being reversed You don't knohat I row into sorow out of what I really was"

"Truly I don't understand, Stephen But then--I as Have I changed? Do I seeay withback across all the noise, all the chaos of the winter--I do not see how I stood it alone"

"Alone?"

"N-not seeing you--so, sceptical eyes "Didn't you enjoy the winter?"

"Do you enjoy being drugged with chane?"

His face altered so quickly that, confused, she only stared at him, the fixed smile stamped on her lips; then, overwhelmed in the revelation: "Stephen, surely, surely you knohat I meant! I did not mean that! Dear, do you dream for one moment that--that I could--"

"No You have not hurtforward on his crutches, biting his lip, the frown gathering between his te, old-fashioned hotel with its white façade and green blinds, a lingering landmark of the older city