He came
to the inevitable decision, the decision he knew at the beginning
that he was going to make.
"If I could only put it up to Harmony first!" he reflected. "But
she will understand when I tell her. She always understands."
Standing there on the little balcony, with tragedy the thickness
of a pine board beyond him, Peter experienced a bit of the glow
of the morning, as of one who stumbling along in a dark place
puts a hand on a friend.
He went into the room. Stewart was lying very still and breathing
easily. On her knees beside the bed knelt Marie. At Peter's step
she rose and faced him.
"I am leaving him, Peter, for always."
"Good!" said Peter heartily. "Better for you and better for him."
Marie drew a long breath. "The night train," she said listlessly,
"is an express. I had forgotten. It is double fare."
"What of that, little sister?" said Peter. "What is a double fare
when it means life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? And
there will be happiness, little sister."
He put his hand in his pocket.
CHAPTER XX
The Portier was almost happy that morning. For one thing, he had
won honorable mention at the Schubert Society the night before;
for another, that night the Engel was to sing Mignon, and the
Portier had spent his Christmas tips for a ticket. All day long
he had been poring over the score.
"'Kennst du das Land wo die Citronen bluhen?'" he sang with
feeling while he polished the floors.
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