She, who knew what the hands suffered and what they needed, could do for them what no outsider could ever do.  With Peter’s money and power and the will to aid, there would be nothing they two could not accomplish.  Their love would teach them how to love the world.  She saw the grand Christmas parties and the summer picnics the Hands would give the hands, and Peter’s idea for a convalescent home should be splendidly carried out.  She saw the very furniture and its chintz covers—­then the picture would vanish like a rainbow—­or break into disjointed bits, like the jig-saw puzzle Peter senior had hidden shamefacedly in a drawer.

For some moments Winifred’s mind would be a blank save for a jumble of Paris mantles and warm customers, then another picture would form:  she would see Peter and herself sending Sadie Kirk to the mountains, where the girl would be even happier and healthier than at the new place which was “free for consumers.”  Sadie would be Win’s own special charge, her Mend, for whom she had the right and privilege to provide.  No more work in shops for Sadie!  No more work at all till she was cured.  Perhaps a winter in the Adirondacks, then such radiant health as the “sardine” had hardly ever known.

Meanwhile the thoughts of Ursus must be turned from the girl who could never love him to the girl who already did.  He and Sadie had been good chums since the day when all three marched in procession toward Mr. Meggison’s window—­how long ago it seemed!  The big heart of the lion tamer was easily moved to pity, and pity was akin to love.  When she—­Win—­gently broke it to him that she was going to marry Peter Rolls, whom she had loved before she ever saw her poor Ursus (of course she had loved Peter always! that was why it had hurt her so cruelly to believe Ena) the dear big fellow, pitying Sadie’s weakness, would turn to his “little old chum” for comfort.

Oh, yes, everything would come right! warbled the disobedient spirit singing on the heights.  Then the common sense and pride in Win would pluck the spirit’s robe, and presto! another picture would dissolve into gray cloud.

Going out to luncheon (ice-cream soda and a sponge cake) somehow broke the radiant charm.  Common sense put the singing spirit relentlessly into its proper place, where, discouraged, it sang no more.  Ugly memories of last night’s danger and humiliation crowded back into the brain no longer irradiated by Peter’s presence.  Win felt dully that none of the glorious fancies of the morning could ever come true, though she still hoped that her words might have some living influence upon the future of the Hands.

Even if Peter really and truly wanted to marry her (which seemed incredible), and his sister misjudged him (also well-nigh incredible), Ena Rolls and Ena Rolls’s father would bar the way to any such happiness as the magic pictures had shown.  It would be hateful to force herself upon a snobbish family who despised her and let her see that she was unwelcome.