sad reflections he forgot Jill altogether. Sorrowinclines one to be selfish, and St. John just then was dwelling so muchupon his own wounded feelings that he had no room for any other thought.That Jill, too, might be hurt, and that very possibly she was worryingon his account did not occur to him or he would have gone to her atonce, instead he seated himself on a little rustic bench that had sooften served to pose a difficult subject, and leaned his head dejectedlyupon his open palm. And thus Jill found him later when, having left herbaby in his Godfather's charge, she came in search of him wondering athis continued absence. The sight brought the tears to her eyes, and shedrew back with the half-formed resolve of going away unseen, butchanging her mind almost immediately she dropped the shabby curtainwhich formed the exit behind her, and running forward put both her armsabout his neck.
"Oh! my saint, my dear old saint, don't take it to heart so," she criedimploringly.
And at the sound of her voice, the voice that was dearer to him than anyother in all the world, he lifted his head and smiled up at her, aloving, reassuring smile.
"I am not taking it to heart," he said. "I was a little bit hipped,that's all."
"You don't think that I acted wrongly?" queried Jill diffidently. "Youare not vexed that I declined his offer for baby?"
"Good Lord, no!" he answered vehemently. "I could never have reconciledmyself to giving the little beggar up. We managed very well without himbefore he came, Jill dear; but we couldn't manage now after once havinghim, could we? You did what was right as I knew you would. In anyserious matter I should invariably leave the decision to you."
"How good you are to me, Jack," she whispered gratefully. "Howunselfish! It doesn't seem fair that you should have had to give up somuch for me. And now comes this fresh trouble. We have had one or twoworries, haven't we dear?"
"Yes," he answered brightly, rising, and putting his arm protectinglyaround her waist, "we have, but fortunately we are both sufficientlyself-respecting, and single-purposed to trust one another implicitly,and so the worries don't affect us very much. Some people would havemagnified them into tragedies, but we have managed to shake them offsomehow, and come up smiling. So long as we have each other, andhealth--"
"And Baby," supplemented Jill. "And Baby, of course; there is nothingmuch we need worry about. The business manages to keep on its feetsomehow; I think one day it may possibly even walk."
"You are brave and confident," Jill whispered a little wistfully, "butyou will never be well off now dear."
And St. John with his arm still round her, drew her nearer to him andkissed her upon the lips. The feeling of sadness had passed, a deephappiness and contentment had risen in its place.
"I _am_ well off," he answered. "No man, whatever his social standingor the size of his banking account, could be better off. I wouldn'tswop you and the boy, Jill, for the untold wealth of the world."
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The End.
The Triumph of Jill Page 25