Is it ?" He did not answer.
"Louis!" "Yes." "I would like to see that picture." "Valerie ?" "Yes ?"--sweetly impatient.
"Are we to see each other again ?" She said calmly: "I didn't ask to see _you_, Louis: I asked to see a picture which you recently painted, called 'Womanhood.'" He remained silent and presently she called him again by name: "You say that you are well--or rather Rita said so two days ago--and I'm wondering whether in the interim you've fallen ill?
Two days without news from you is rather disquieting.

Please tell me at once exactly how you are ?" He succeeded in forcing something resembling a laugh: "I am all right," he said.
"I don't see how you could be--after the letter you wrote me.

How much of it did you mean ?" He was silent.
"Louis! Answer me!" "All--of it," he managed to reply.
[Illustration: "She knelt down beside the bed and ...

said whatever prayer she had in mind"] "_All!_" "Yes." "Then--perhaps you scarcely expected me to call up to-night.

Did you ?" "No." "Suppose I had not done so." He shivered slightly, but remained mute.
"Answer me, Louis ?" "It would have been--better." "For you ?" "For--both." "Do you believe it ?" "Yes." "Then--have I any choice except to say--good-night ?" "No choice.