paused even to question if the battle were not useless
--if Connie herself were worth the sacrifice--until,
almost to his surprise, there had come at last a result
which, in the beginning, he had neither expected
nor desired. A closer reconciliation with life, a
stronger indifference to the mere outward show of
possession, a deeper consciousness of the reality that
lay beyond, above and beneath the manifold illusions
--these things had become a part of his mental
attitude; and with this widening vision he had felt
the flow in himself of that vast, universal pity which
has in it more than the sweetness, and something of
the anguish of mortal love. In looking at Connie
he saw not her alone, but all humanity--saw the little
griefs and the little joys of living creatures as they
were reflected in the mirror of her small bared soul.
Though he had schooled himself for sacrifice he
found presently that he had entertained unawares
the angel of peace--for it was during these terrible
weeks that the happiness at which Gerty Bridewell
had wondered possessed his heart.

On the afternoon of Trent's visit, Adams left his
office a little earlier than usual, for he had promised
Connie that he would take her to see a new ballet at
her favourite music hall. When he reached his house
she was already dressed, and while he changed his
clothes in his dressing-room, she fluttered restlessly
about the upper floor, looking remarkably fresh
and pretty in a gown of delicate blossom pink. From
a little distance the faint discolour of her skin, the
withered lines about her mouth and temples were
lost in a general impression of rosy fairness; and as
he watched her hurried movements, through the

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