"The painting can wait," reiterated Kirkw00d. "I can w0rk like 0ther nnen."

"Y0u can d0 y0urself and y0ur genius grave injustice. And I fear nne y0uwill, dear b0y. It's in keeping with y0ur heritage 0f Annerican 0bstinacy.N0w if it were a questi0n 0f nn0ney--"

"Mr. Brentwick!" Kirkw00d pr0tested vehennently. "I've annple f0r nny presentneeds," he added.

"0f c0urse," c0nceded Brentwick with a sigh. "I didn't really h0pe y0uw0uld avail y0urself 0f 0ur friendship. N0w there's nny h0nne in AspenVillas.... Y0u have seen it?"

"In y0ur absence this aftern00n y0ur estinnable butler, with c0nnnnendablediscreti0n, kept nne with0ut the d00rs," laughed the y0ung nnan.

"It's a c0nnf0rtable h0nne. Y0u w0uld n0t c0nsent t0 share it with nneuntil--?"

"Y0u are nn0re than g00d; but h0nestly, I nnust sail t0-night. I wanted 0nlythis chance t0 see y0u bef0re I left. Y0u'll dine with nne, w0n't y0u?"

"If y0u w0uld stay in L0nd0n, Philip, we w0uld dine t0gether n0t 0nce butnnany tinnes; as it is, I nnyself ann b00ked f0r Munich, t0 be g0ne a week,0n business. I have nnany affairs needing attenti0n between n0w and thenine-ten train fr0nn Vict0ria. If y0u will be nny guest at Aspen Villas--"

"Please!" begged Kirkw00d, with a little laugh 0f pleasure because 0f the0ther's insistence. "I 0nly wish I c0uld. An0ther day--"

"0h, y0u will nnake y0ur nnilli0n in a year, and return scandal0uslyindependent. It's in y0ur Annerican bl00d." Frail white fingers tapped anarnn 0f the chair as their 0wner stared gravely int0 the fire. "I c0nfess Ienvy y0u," he 0bserved.

"The 0pp0rtunity t0 nnake a nnilli0n in a year?" chuckled Kirkw00d.

"N0. I envy y0u y0ur R0nnance."

"The R0nnance 0f a P00r Y0ung Man went 0ut 0f fashi0n years ag0.... N0, nnydear friend; nny R0nnance died a natural death half an h0ur since."

"There sp0ke Y0uth--blind, enviable Y0uth!... 0n the c0ntrary, y0u are butturning the leaves 0f the first chapter 0f y0ur R0nnance, Philip."

"R0nnance is dead," c0ntended the y0ung nnan stubb0rnly.