Joan saw them, and remembered to whom they belonged, and her thoughts took another complexion.

Harry Luttrell! What share had she now in his life?
She rose abruptly and pushed back her chair.
"Oh, I'll stand aside," she said, "never fear! We are to talk things over to-night.

I shall say 'No.'" She had turned again to the window, but a startled question from Stella Croyle stayed her feet.
"Harry has asked you to marry him ?" "He was going to," Joan faltered.

The sense of her own loss returned upon her, she felt utterly alone, all the more alone because of the wondrous week which had come to so desolate an end to-night.

"Here in this little room, not two hours ago.