Forgive me if I have been led on to speak too much of myself.

Today one should think of nothing but of you and of your happiness." He turned to accept the greeting of an older woman who had lingered for a moment, in passing, evidently anxious to speak to him.

Penelope watched his kindly air, listened to the courteous words which flowed from his lips, the interest in his manner, which his whole bearing denoted, notwithstanding the fact that the woman was elderly and plain, and had outlived the friends of her day and received but scanty consideration from the present generation.

It was typical of him, too, she realized.

It was never to the great women of the world that he unbent most thoroughly.