Helen Carey was in London, visiting the daughter of the American Ambassador; and, though Philip had known her only one winter, he loved her dearly.

The great trouble was that he had no money, and that she possessed so much of it that, unless he could show some unusual quality of mind or character, his asking her to marry him, from his own point of view at least, was quite impossible.

Of course, he knew that no one could love her as he did, that no one so truly wished for her happiness, or would try so devotedly to make her happy.

But to him it did not seem possible that a girl could be happy with a man who was not able to pay for her home, or her clothes, or her food, who would have to borrow her purse if he wanted a new pair of gloves or a hair-cut.

For Philip Endicott, while rich in birth and education and charm of manner, had no money at all.