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His wealth served only to strengthen the barrier between theed to be If the talent that now seemed so useless could have been used for him she would have found a measure of happiness even if love had never come to crown her service In poverty she would have worked for hith and tirelessness that only love can give But here the gladness of giving, of serving, was denied, here there was nothing she ht do and the futility of her life choked her She had conscientiously endeavoured to assume the responsibilities and duties of her new position, but there see household ran smoothly on oiled wheels under the capable administration of Forbes and Mrs Appleyard, hom, both honest and devoted to the interests of the fa and faithfully, she kneas unnecessary and unwise to interfere In any unusual circumstance they would refer to her with tactful deference but for the rest she knew that, perforce, she ure-head

Even her work--interrupted constantly by the social duties incuation--failed to comfort and distract It was all so utterly useless and purposeless The gift hich she had thought to do so er Gillian Locke who had dreamed of independence, who had hoped by toil and endeavour to clear the stain from her father's name She was the rich Mrs Craven--whoheart, who must play the part expected of her, who must appear always care-free and happy And the constant effort was almost more than she could achieve In the ceaseless watch she set upon herself, in the rigid self-suppression she exercised, it seemed to her as if her true self had died, and her entity faded into an auto of her will Only during the long night hours or in the safe seclusion of the studio could she relax, could she be natural for a little while That Craven ht not fail him as she had failed herself, was her one prayer She welcoent in their demands upon her society--particularly; with the house filled the time of host and hostess was fully occupied and the difficult days passed more easily, more quickly