“No; I never could understand you, even when you took the trouble to explain things.”

“Yes, I know.”  She drew off her gloves and rubbed her fingers, which were damp and cold.

“But, surely, this is only a whim.  You can’t seriously mean to give up the stage when the whole world is watching you!”

She did not answer him, but continued to rub her fingers.  She wore several rings, among which was a brilliant of unusual luster.  Warrington, however, had eyes for nothing but her face.  For the past six months he had noted a subtle change in her, a growing reserve, a thoughtfulness that was slowly veiling or subduing her natural gaiety.  She now evaded him when he suggested one of their old romps in queer little restaurants; she professed illness when he sent for her to join him in some harmless junketing.  She was slowly slipping away from him; no, drifting, since he made no real effort to hold her.  And why had he made no real effort?  Sometimes he thought he could answer this question, and then again he knew that he could not.  Ah, if he only loved her!  What a helpmeet:  cheerful, resourceful, full of good humor and practical philosophy, a brilliant wit, with all the finished graces of a goddess.  Ah, if indeed he only loved her!  This thought kept running through his mind persistently; it had done so for days; but it had always led him back to the starting point.  Love is not always reasoning with itself.  Perhaps—­and the thought filled him with regret—­perhaps he was indeed incapable of loving any one as his poet’s fancy believed he ought to love.  And this may account for the truth of the statement that genius is rarely successful in love; the ideal is so high that it is out of the reach of life as we, genius or clod, live it.

“Isn’t this determination rather sudden?” he asked, when the pause grew insupportable.

“I have been thinking of it for some time,” she replied, smiling.  A woman always finds herself at ease during such crises.  “Only, I hadn’t exactly made up my mind.  You were at work?” glancing at the desk.

“Yes, but I’m through for the night.  It’s only a scenario, and I am not entirely satisfied with it.”

She walked over to the desk and picked up a sheet at random.  She was a privileged person in these rooms.  Warrington never had any nervous dread when she touched his manuscript.

“How is it going to end?” she asked.

“Oh, they are going to marry and be happy ever after,” he answered, smiling.

“Ah; then they are never going to have any children?” she said, with a flash of her old-time mischief.

“Will you have a cigarette?” lighting one and offering her the box.