and never bother again about money all our lives."

Raeburn smiled at her ides of felicity--no cares, and plenty of
dogs and cats! He did not anticipate any haven of rest at the end
of the two years for himself. He knew that his life must be a
series of conflicts to the very end. Still he hoped for relief
from the load of debt, and looked forward to the reestablishment of
his home.

Brian Osmond heard of the plans before long, but he scarcely saw
Erica; the Christmas holidays began, and he no longer met her each
afternoon in Gower Street, while the time drew nearer and nearer
for her departure for Paris. At length, on the very last day, it
chanced that they were once more thrown together.

Raeburn was a great lover of flowers, and he very often received
floral offerings from his followers. It so happened that some
beautiful hot-house flowers had been sent to him from a nursery
garden one day in January, and, unwilling to keep them all, he had
suggested that Erica should take some to the neighboring hospitals.
Now there were two hospitals in Guilford Square; Erica felt much
more interested in the children's hospital than in the one for
grown-up people; but, wishing to be impartial she arranged a
basketful for each, and well pleased to have anything to give,
hastened on her errand. Much to her delight, her first basket of
flowers was not only accepted very gratefully, but the lady
superintendent took her over the hospital, and let her distribute
the flowers among the children. She was very fond of children, and
was as happy as she could be passing up and down among the little
beds, while her bright manner attracted the little ones, and made