Within a week he had forgotten the great man's fine words of
praise, but the clasp of his hand he cherished always.

Helen met Marion as she was leaving the stage door and stopped to
congratulate her on her success in the new part. Marion was
radiant. To Helen she seemed obstreperously happy and jubilant.

"And, Marion," Helen began bravely, "I also want to congratulate
you on something else. You--you--neither of you have told me
yet," she stammered, "but I am such an old friend of both that I
will not be kept out of the secret." At these words Marion's air
of triumphant gayety vanished; she regarded Helen's troubled eyes
closely and kindly.

"What secret, Helen?" she asked.

"I came to the door of Philip's room the other day when you did
not know I was there," Helen answered; "and I could not help
seeing how matters were. And I do congratulate you both--and
wish you--oh, such happiness!" Without a word Marion dragged her
back down the passage to her dressing-room, and closed the door.

"Now tell me what you mean," she said.

"I am sorry if I discovered anything you didn't want known yet,"
said Helen, "but the door was open. Mr. Wimpole had just left
you and had not shut it, and I could not help seeing."

Marion interrupted her with an eager exclamation of
enlightenment.