"Does it end happily?"
Ere he could have replied, her thoughts were again of her letter.
Blake walked slowly to where stood Elinor. She was toying with a hanging blossom of white, fragrant, spreading. Her eyes were moist; her hand trembled.
He asked, very softly:
"Does it end happily, Nell?"
She turned to him. Her lips quivered.
"I hope so," she whispered. "Only God Himself knows how I hope so!" And then she added slowly, "If women were only as loyal to women as men are to men!"
[Illustration]