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You merely report what you see。 So； if you are doomed to write
only of what you see； then the best thing for you to do is to see
as many things as possible。 You must see all kinds of life。 You
must progress。 You must leave New York； and you had better go to
London。〃
〃But on the Republic；〃 Endicott pointed out； 〃I get a salary。 And
in London I should have to sweep a crossing。〃
〃Then；〃 said the literary editor； 〃you could write a story about
a man who swept a crossing。〃
It was not alone the literary editor's words of wisdom that had
driven Philip to London。 Helen Carey was in London； visiting the
daughter of the American Ambassador； and； though Philip had known
her only one winter； he loved her dearly。 The great trouble was
that he had no money； and that she possessed so much of it that；
unless he could show some unusual quality of mind or character；
his asking her to marry him； from his own point of view at least；
was quite impossible。 Of course； he knew that no one could love
her as he did； that no one so truly wished for her happiness； or
would try so devotedly to make her happy。 But to him it did not
seem possible that a girl could be happy with a man who was not
able to pay for her home； or her clothes； or her food； who would
have to borrow her purse if he wanted a new pair of gloves or a
hair…cut。 For Philip Endicott； while rich in birth and education
and charm of manner； had no money at all。 When； in May； he came
from New York to lay siege to London and to the heart of Helen
Carey he had with him； all told； fifteen hundred dollars。 That
was all he possessed in the world； and unless the magazines
bought his stories there was no prospect of his getting any more。
Friends who knew London told him that； if you knew London well；
it was easy to live comfortably there and to go about and even to
entertain modestly on three sovereigns a day。 So； at that rate；
Philip calculated he could stay three months。 But he found that
to know London well enough to be able to live there on three
sovereigns a day you had first to spend so many five…pound notes
in getting acquainted with London that there were no sovereigns
left。 At the end of one month he had just enough money to buy him
a second…class passage back to New York； and he was as far from
Helen as ever。
Often he had read in stories and novels of men who were too poor
to marry。 And he had laughed at the idea。 He had always said that
when two people truly love each other it does not matter whether
they have money or not。 But when in London； with only a
five…pound note； and face to face with the actual proposition of
asking Helen Carey not only to marry him but to support him； he
felt that money counted for more than he had supposed。 He found
money was many different thingsit was self…respect； and proper
pride； and private honors and independence。 And； lacking these
things； he felt he could ask no girl to marry him； certainly not
one for whom he cared as he cared for Helen Carey。 Besides； while
he knew how he loved her； he had no knowledge whatsoever that she
loved him。 She always seemed extremely glad to see him； but that
might be explained in different ways。 It might be that what was
in her heart for him was really a sort of 〃old home week〃
feeling； that to her it was a relief to see any one who spoke her
own language； who did not need to have it explained when she was
jesting； and who did not think when she was speaking in perfectly
satisfactory phrases that she must be talking slang。
The Ambassador and his wife had been very kind to Endicott； and；
as a friend of Helen's； had asked him often to dinner and had
sent him cards for dances at which Helen was to be one of the
belles and beauties。 And Helen herself had been most kind； and
had taken early morning walks with him in Hyde Park and through
the National Galleries； and they had fed buns to the bears in the
Zoo； and in doing so had laughed heartily。 They thought it was
because the bears were so ridiculous that they laughed。 Later
they appreciated that the reason they were happy was because they
were together。 Had the bear pit been empty； they still would have
laughed。
On the evening of the thirty…first of May； Endicott had gone to
bed with his ticket purchased for America and his last five…pound
note to last him until the boat sailed。 He was a miserable young
man。 He knew now that he loved Helen Carey in such a way that to
put the ocean between them was liable to unseat his courage and
his self…control。 In London he could； each night； walk through
Carlton House Terrace and； leaning against the iron rails of the
Carlton Club； gaze up at her window。 But； once on the other side
of the ocean； that tender exercise must be abandoned。 He must
even consider her pursued by most attractive guardsmen；
diplomats； and belted earls。 He knew they could not love her as
he did； he knew they could not love her for the reasons he loved
her； because the fine and beautiful things in her that he saw and
worshipped they did not seek； and so did not find。 And yet； for
lack of a few thousand dollars； he must remain silent； must put
from him the best that ever came into his life； must waste the
wonderful devotion he longed to give； must starve the love that
he could never summon for any other woman。
On the thirty…first of May he went to sleep utterly and
completely miserable。 On the first of June he woke hopeless and
unrefreshed。
And then the miracle came。
Prichard； the ex…butler who valeted all the young gentlemen in
the house where Philip had taken chambers； brought him his
breakfast。 As he placed the eggs and muffins on the tables to
Philip it seemed as though Prichard had said： 〃I am sorry he is
leaving us。 The next gentleman who takes these rooms may not be
so open…handed。 He never locked up his cigars or his whiskey。 I
wish he'd give me his old dress…coat。 It fits me； except across
the shoulders。〃
Philip stared hard at Prichard； but the lips of the valet had not
moved。 In surprise and bewilderment； Philip demanded：
〃How do you know it fits？ Have you tried it on？〃
〃I wouldn't take such a liberty；〃 protested Prichard。 〃Not with
any of our gentlemen's clothes。〃
〃How did you know I was talking about clothes；〃 demanded Philip。
〃You didn't say anything about clothes； did you？〃
〃No； sir； I did not； but you asked me； sir； and I〃
〃Were you thinking of clothes？〃
〃Well； sir； you might say； in a way； that I was； answered the
valet。 〃Seeing as you're leaving； sir； and they're not over…new；
I thought 〃
〃It's mental telepathy；〃 said Philip。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 exclaimed Prichard。
〃You needn't wait；〃 said Philip。
The coincidence puzzled him； but by the time he had read the
morning papers he had forgotten about it； and it was not until he
had emerged into the street that it was forcibly recalled。 The
street was crowded with people； and as Philip stepped in among
them； It was as though every one at whom he looked began to talk
aloud。 Their lips did not move； nor did any sound issue from
between them； but； without ceasing； broken phrases of thoughts
came to him as clearly as when； in passing in a crowd； snatches
of talk are carried to the ears。 One man thought of his debts；
another of the weather； and of what disaster it might bring to
his silk hat； another planned his luncheon； another was rejoicing
over a telegram he had but that moment received。 To himself he
kept repeating the words of the telegram〃No need to come； out
of danger。〃 To Philip the message came as clearly as though he
were reading it from the folded slip of paper that the stranger
clutched in his hand。
Confused and somewhat frightened； and in order that undisturbed
he might consider what had befallen him； Philip sought refuge
from the crowded street in the hallway of a building。 His first
thought was that for some unaccountable cause his brain for the
moment was playing tricks with him； and he was inventing the
phrases he seemed to hear； that he was attributing thoughts to
others of which they were entirely innocent。 But； whatever it was
that had befallen him； he knew it was imperative that he should
at once get at the meaning of it。
The hallway in which he stood opened from Bond Street up a flight
of stairs to the studio of a fashionable photographer； and
directly in front of the hallway a young woman of charming
appearance had halted。 Her glance was troubled； her manner ill at
ease。 To herself she kept repeating： 〃Did I tell Hudson to be
here at a quarter to eleven； or a quarter past？ Will she get the
telephone message to bring the ruff？ Without the ruff it would be
absurd to be photographed。 Without her ruff Mary Queen of Scots
would look ridiculous！〃
Although the young woman had spoken not a single word； although
indeed she was biting impatiently at her lower lip； Philip had
distinguished the words clearly。 Or； if he had not distinguished
them； he surely was going mad。 It was a matter to be at once
determined； and the young woman should determine it。 He advanced
boldly to her； and raised his hat。
〃Pardon me；〃 he said； 〃but I believe you are waiting for your
maid Hudson？〃
As though fearing an impertinence； t