“Lew, I know.  I’m awake.  Every woman has a right to an awakening, but most of them by good fortune miss it.  There’s one in ten that doesn’t.  I didn’t.  The tenth woman—­that’s what I’m coming to, and whether it’s the tenth woman or the tenth man, it’s all the same in bitter love.”

H lne’s eyes took on the far-away look that blots out the present world, and clothes a distant vision in flesh and blood.

“You saw what you saw to-day,” she went on in a voice so low that Lewis leaned forward to catch her words.  “Remember that, and then listen.  The love that comes to youth is like the dawn of day.  There is no resplendent dawn without a sun, nor does the flower of a woman’s soul open to a lesser light.  The tenth woman,” she repeated, “the one woman.  To her awakening comes with a man, not through him.  He is part of the dawn of life, and though clouds may later hide his shining face, her heart remembers forever the glory of the morning.”

The tears welled from her eyes unheeded.  Lewis leaped forward with a cry.

“H lne!  H lne!”

She held him off.

“Don’t touch me!” she gasped.  “I only wanted you to see the whole burden of love.  Now go, dear.  Please go.  I’m—­I’m very tired.”

CHAPTER XL

Lewis, walking rapidly toward the flat, was thinking over all that Lady Derl had said and was trying to bring Folly into line with his thoughts.  He had never pictured Folly old.  He tried now and failed.  Folly and youth were inseparable; Folly was youth.  Then he gave up thinking of Folly.  That moment did not belong to her.  As once before, the fragrance and the memory of H lne clung to him, held him.

He passed slowly into the room where Leighton sat.  He felt a dread lest his father ask him what it was H lne had said.  But he wronged his father.  Leighton merely glanced up, flashed a look into the eyes of his son.  He saw and knew the light that was there for the light that lingers in the eyes of him who comes from looking upon holy inner places.

For an hour neither spoke, then Leighton said: 

“Going out to lunch to-day?”

“No,” said Lewis; “I’ve told Nelton I’d be in.”

“About this marriage,” said Leighton, smiling.  “Let’s look on it as a settled thing that there’s going to be a marriage.  Have you thought about the date and ways and means?”

Lewis flushed.

“Don’t misunderstand me,” said Leighton.  “I might as well tell you that I’ve decided to divide my income equally between us, marriage or no marriage.”

“Dad!” cried Lewis, half protesting.

“There, there,” said Leighton, “you’re not getting from me what you think.  What I mean is that I’m not making any sacrifice.  I’ve lived on half my income for some time.  You’ll need a lump-sum of money besides.  Your grandmother left you a big house in Albany.  It won’t bring much, but I think you’d better sell it.  It’s on the wrong side of the town now.”