ll　the　truth　really；〃　she　added　with　a　shy　little　laugh；　〃I　wanted　to　have　you　congratulate　me　on　my　prize　too。　　But；　Larry；　I　understand　how　you　forgot。〃
  〃Forgot！〃　said　Larry。　　〃No；　Jane；　I　did　not　forget；　but　this　telegram　from　Chicago　came　last　night；　and　I　was　busy　with　my　packing　all　morning　and　then　in　the　afternoon　I　thought　I　would　hurry　through　a　few　callsthey　always　take　longer　than　one　thinks　and　before　I　knew　it　I　was　late　for　dinner。　　I　had　not　forgotten；　I　was　thinking　of　you　all　day；　Jane。〃
  〃Were　you；　Larry？〃　said　Jane；　a　gentle　tenderness　in　her　smile。　　〃I　am　glad。〃
  Then　a　silence　fell　between　them　for　some　moments。　　They　were　both　thinking　of　the　change　that　was　coming　to　their　lives。　　Larry　was　wondering　how　he　would　ever　do　without　this　true…hearted　friend　whose　place　in　his　life　he　was　only　discovering　now　to　be　so　large。　He　glanced　at　her。　　Her　eyes　were　glowing　with　a　soft　radiance　that　seemed　to　overflow　from　some　inner　spring。
  〃Jane；〃　he　cried　with　a　sudden　impulse；　〃you　are　lovely；　you　are　perfectly　lovely。〃
  A　shy；　startled；　eager　look　leaped　into　her　eyes。　　Then　her　face　grew　pale。　　She　waited；　expectant；　tremulous。　　But　at　that　instant　a　noisy　group　passed　into　the　library。
  〃Larry；〃　whispered　Jane；　turning　swiftly　to　him　and　laying　her　hand　upon　his　arm；　〃you　will　take　me　home　to…night。〃
  〃All　right；　Jane；　of　course；〃　said　Larry。
  As　they　passed　out　from　the　library　Helen　Brookes　met　them。　〃Larry；　come　here；〃　she　said　in　a　voice　of　suppressed　excitement。　〃Larry；　don't　you　want　to　do　something　for　me？　　Scuddy　wants　to　take　me　home　tonight；　and　I　don't　want　him　to。〃
  〃But　why　not；　Helen？　　You　ought　to　be　good　to　Scuddy；　poor　chap。　He's　a　splendid　fellow；　and　I　won't　have　him　abused。〃
  〃Not　to…night；　Larry；　I　can't　have　him　to…night。　　You　will　take　me　home；　won't　you？　　I　am　going　very　soon。〃
  〃You　are；　eh？　　Well；　if　you　can　go　within　ten　minutes；　I　shall　be　ready。〃
  〃Say　fifteen；〃　said　Helen；　turning　to　meet　Lloyd　Rushbrook；　the　Beau　Brummel　of　the　college；　who　came　claiming　a　dance。
  Larry　at　once　went　in　search　of　Jane　to　tell　her　of　his　engagement　with　Helen　Brookes；　but　could　find　her　nowhere；　and　after　some　time　spent　in　a　vain　search；　he　left　a　message　for　her　with　his　hostess。　At　the　head　of　the　stairs　he　found　Helen　waiting。
  〃Oh；　hurry；　Larry；〃　she　cried　in　a　fever　of　excitement。　　〃Let's　get　away　quickly。〃
  〃Two　minutes　will　do　me；〃　said　Larry；　rushing　into　the　dressing　room。
  There　he　found　Scudamore　pacing　up　and　down　in　fierce；　gloomy　silence。
  〃You　are　taking　her　home；　Larry？〃　he　said。
  〃Who？〃　said　Larry。　　Then　glancing　at　his　face；　he　added；　〃Yes；　Scuddy；　I　am　taking　Helen　home。　　She　is　apparently　in　a　great　hurry。〃
  〃She　need　not　be；　I　shall　not　bother　her　any　more；〃　said　Scuddy　bitterly；　〃and　you　can　tell　her　that　for　me；　if　you　like。〃
  〃No；　I　won't　tell　her　that；　Scuddy；〃　said　Larry；　〃and；　Scuddy；〃　he　added；　imparting　a　bit　of　worldly　wisdom；　〃campaigns　are　not　won　in　a　single　battle；　and；　Scuddy；　remember　too　that　the　whistling　fisherman　catches　the　fish。　　So　cheer　up；　old　boy。〃　　But　Scuddy　only　glowered　at　him。
  Larry　found　Helen　awaiting　him；　and　quietly　they　slipped　out　together。　　〃This　is　splendid　of　you；　Larry；〃　she　said；　taking　his　arm　and　giving　him　a　little　squeeze。
  〃I　don't　know　about　that；　Helen。　　I　left　Scuddy　raging　upstairs　there。　　You　girls　are　the　very　devil　for　cruelty　sometimes。　　You　get　men　serious　with　you；　then　you　flirt　and　flutter　about　till　the　unhappy　wretches　don't　know　where　they　are　at。　　Here's　our　car。〃
  〃Car！〃　exclaimed　Helen。　　〃With　this　moonlight；　Larry？　　And　you　going　away　to…morrow？　　Not　if　I　know　it。〃
  〃It　is　fearfully　unromantic；　Helen；　I　know。　　But　I　must　hurry。　　I　have　to　take　Jane　home。〃
  〃Oh；　Jane！　　It's　always　Jane；　Jane！〃
  〃Well；　why　not？〃　said　Larry。　　〃For　years　Jane　has　been　my　greatest　pal；　my　best　friend。〃
  〃Nothing　more？〃　said　Helen　earnestly。　　〃Cross　your　heart；　Larry。〃
  〃Nothing　more；　cross　my　heart　and　all　the　rest　of　it；〃　replied　Larry。　　〃Why！　here's　another　car；　Helen。〃
  〃Oh；　Larry；　you　are　horrid；　perfectly　heartless！　　We　may　never　walk　together　again。　　Here　I　am　throwing　myself　at　you　and　you　only　think　of　getting　away　back。〃　　Under　her　chaffing　words　there　sounded　a　deeper　note。
  〃So　I　see；〃　said　Larry；　laughing　and　refusing　to　hear　the　deeper　undertone。　　〃But　I　see　something　else　as　well。〃
  〃What？〃　challenged　Helen。
  〃I　see　Scuddy　leading　out　from　Trinity　some　day　the　loveliest　girl　in　Winnipeg。〃
  〃Oh；　I　won't　talk　about　Scuddy；〃　said　Helen　impatiently。　　〃I　want　to　talk　about　you。　　Tell　me　about　this　Chicago　business。〃
  For　the　rest　of　the　way　home　she　led　Larry　to　talk　of　his　plans　for　the　future。　　At　her　door　Helen　held　out　her　hand。　　〃You　won't　come　in；　Larry；　I　know；　so　we　will　say　good…bye　here。〃　　Her　voice　was　gentle　and　earnest。　　The　gay；　proud；　saucy　air　which　she　had　ever　worn　and　which　had　been　one　of　her　chief　charms；　was　gone。　　The　moonlight　revealed　a　lovely　wistful　face　from　which　misty　eyes　looked　into　his。　　〃This　is　the　end　of　our　good　times　together；　Larry。　　And　we　have　had　good　times。　　You　are　going　to　be　a　great　man　some　day。　　I　wish　you　all　the　best　in　life。〃
  〃Thank　you；　Helen；〃　said　Larry；　touched　by　the　tones　of　her　voice　and　the　look　in　her　eyes。　　〃We　have　been　good　friends。　　We　shall　never　be　anything　else。　　With　my　heart　I　wish　youoh；　just　everything　that　is　good；　Helen　dear。　　Good…bye；〃　he　said；　leaning　toward　her。　　〃How　lovely　you　are！〃　he　murmured。
  〃Good…bye；　dear　Larry；〃　she　whispered；　lifting　up　her　face。
  〃Good…bye；　you　dear　girl；〃　he　said；　and　kissed　her。
  〃Now　go；〃　she　said；　pushing　him　away　from　her。
  〃Be　good　to　Scuddy；〃　he　replied　as　he　turned　from　her　and　hurried　away。
  He　broke　into　a　run；　fearing　to　be　late；　and　by　the　time　he　arrived　at　the　Allens'　door　he　had　forgotten　all　about　Helen　Brookes　and　was　thinking　only　of　Jane　and　of　what　he　wanted　to　say　to　her。　　At　the　inner　door　he　met　Macleod　and　Ethel　coming　out。
  〃Jane's　gone；〃　said　Ethel；　〃some　time　ago。〃
  〃Gone？〃　said　Larry。
  〃Yes；　Scuddy　took　her　home。〃
  〃Are　they　all　gone？〃　inquired　Larry。
  〃Yes；　for　the　most　part。〃
  〃Oh；　all　right　then；　I　think　I　shall　not　go　in。　　Good…night；〃　he　said；　turned　abruptly　about　and　set　off　for　Dr。　Brown's。　　He　looked　again　at　his　watch。　　He　was　surprised　to　find　it　was　not　so　very　late。　　Why　had　Jane　not　waited　for　him？　　Had　he　hurt　her　again？　　He　was　sorely　disappointed。　　Surely　she　had　no　reason　to　be　offended；　and　this　was　his　last　night。　　As　he　thought　the　matter　over　he　came　to　the　conclusion　that　now　it　was　he　that　had　a　grievance。　　Arrived　at　Dr。　Brown's　house　the　only　light　to　be　seen　was　in　Jane's　room　upstairs。　　Should　he　go　in　or　should　he　go　home　and　wait　till　to…　morrow。　　He　was　too　miserable　to　think　of　going　home　without　seeing　her。　　He　determined　that　he　must　see　her　at　all　cost　to…night。　　He　took　a　pebble　and　flung　it　up　against　her　window；　and　another　and　another。　　The　window　opened　and　Jane　appeared。
  〃Oh；　Larry；〃　she　whispered。　　〃Is　it　you？　　Wait；　I　shall　be　down。〃
  She　opened　the　door　for　him　and　stood　waiting　for　him　to　speak。　〃Why　didn't　you　wait？〃　he　asked；　passing　into　the　hall。　　〃I　was　not　very　long。〃
  〃Why　should　I　wait；　Larry？〃　she　said　quietly。　　〃Scuddy　told　me　you　had　gone　home　with　Helen。〃
  〃But　didn't　I　promise　that　I　would　take　you　home？〃
  〃You　did；　and　then　went　away。〃
  〃Well；　all　I　have　to　say；　Jane；　is　that　this　is　not　a　bit　like　you。　I　am　sorry　I　brought　you　down；　and　I　won't　keep　you　any　longer。　Good…night。　　I　shall　see　you　tomorrow。〃
  But　Jane　got　between　him　and　the　door　and　stood　with　her　back　to　it。　　〃No；　Larry；　you　are　not　going　away　like　that。　　Go　into　the　study。〃　　Larry　looked　at　her　in　astonishment。　　This　was　indeed　a　new　Jane　to　him。　　Wrathful；　imperious；　she　stood　waving　him　toward　the　study　door。　　In　spite　of　his　irritation　he　was　conscious　of　a　new　admiration　for　her。　　Feeling　a　little　like　a　boy　about　to　receive　his　punishment；　he　passed　into　the　study。
  〃Didn't　Mrs。　Allen　give　you　my　message？〃　he　said。
  〃Your　message；　Larry？〃　cried　Jane；　a　light　breaking　upon　her　face。　〃Did　you　leave　a　message　for　me？〃
  〃I　did。　　I　told　Mrs。　Allen　to　tell　you　where　I　had　goneHelen　was　so　anxious　to　goand　that　I　would　be　right　back。〃　　Larry's　voice　was　full　of　reproach。
  〃Oh；　Larry；　I　am　so　glad；〃　said　Jane；　her　tone　indicating　the　greatness　of　her　relief。　　〃I　knew　it　was　all　rightthat　something　had　prevented。　　I　am　so　glad　you　came　in。　　You　must　have　thought　me　queer。〃
  〃No；〃　said　Larry；　appeased；　〃I　knew　all　the　time　there　must　be　some　explanation；　only　I　was　feeling　so　miserable。〃
  〃And　I　was　miserable；　too；　Larry；〃　she　said　gently。　　〃It　seemed　a　pity　that　this　should　happen　on　our　last　night。〃　　All　her　wrath　was　gone。　　She　was　once　more　the　Jane　that　Larry　had　always　known；　gentle；　sweet；　straightforward；　and　on　her　face　the　old　transfiguring　smile。　　Before　this　change　of　mood　all　his　irritation　vanished。　Humbled；　penitent；　and　with　a　rush　of　warm　affection　filling　his　heart；　he　said；
  〃I　should　have　known　you　were　not　to　blame；　but　you　are　always　right。　　Never　once　in　all　these　years　have　you　failed　me。　　You　always　understand　a　fellow。　　Do　you　know　I　am