She put down her hands and lifted her strange, tear-stained face.
'You are going to Althea.'
'Yes,' said Franklin, and he smiled gently at her.
'You are going to ask her to marry you before she can know that Gerald is giving her up.'
He paused for a moment. 'I'm going to see if she needs me.'
Helen gazed at him. She couldn't see joy growing, but she saw a determination that, in its sudden strength, was almost a joy.
'And—if she doesn't need you, Franklin?'
'Ah, well,' said Franklin, continuing to smile rather fixedly, 'I've stood that, you see, for a good many years.'
Helen rose and came beside him. 'Franklin,' she said, and she took his hand, 'if she doesn't have you—you'll come back.'
'Come back?' he questioned, and she saw that all his hardly held fortitude was shaken by his wonder.