Part 38 (1/2)

But Molly Healy realised that Desmond O'Connor had decided To her, this represented the destruction of an ideal she had never hoped to realise; but, as she wiped a few tears fro she re what you want, Molly Healy It is better Des--and it will keep him out of the way of that Sylvia Custance God knohat is best for every one of us”

CHAPTER XXII

A LINK BROKEN

Denis Quirk was back in Melbourne, in the ”Bachelors' Flat,” and working relentlessly at the ”Freelance” That intrepid little weekly had shouldered its way into a prominent position in the literary world It stood for independence of thought, avoiding the hu its own ideas to the public, careless of passing crazes and passions

It may be said of Denis Quirk in those days that his only pleasure was in his work He was lonely for Desmond O'Connor, now a student at Manly

The flat was still frequented by the representatives of ated talent, as in the old days Jests wereby well-trained voices; but these were ed for the intimate companionshi+p of the forhton, but there he found Sylvia Custance She weaved her web to enslave Denis, interesting herself in his career, asking hi her utmost to persuade him that he was the most important person in the world to her Denis watched her as a scientist observes a reed silence on his part, she asked--

”What are you thinking about, if Iabout you,” he replied

She eyed hiard his answer ”And what is your opinion about me?” she asked, after a pause

”One that I cannot properly express in every-day language You are the ed to know, and in soreat praise from you,” she answered

”It is neither praise nor flattery; it is merely the truth You are so clever that I cannot understand you”

Sylvia Custance iined that she had at last won Denis Quirk's ad her for the benefit of one of her chosen bodyguard, she would have suffered a bitter disillusion home with this admirer, a mere boy, to whose unopened eyes Sylvia Custance was the ideal of women

”Did you ever see such another wo man asked, in his youthful enthusiasm

”No, thank God, I never did,” Denis answered bluntly

This was a sudden and unexpected check to the boy's eloquence He regarded Denis frowningly

”If you intend----,” he began

”You asked er I have a very high regard for good woical problem to me She cares for only one person--herself, and that self she regards as a celestial body around which all other lesser bodies should revolve To attain this necessary consu herself to suit all who approach her To you she is sweet, and inclined to gush; to me, a woman whose interests are in the stern affairs of life; to another an artist--so different to all men She is so versatile that she has no fixed character She is neither good nor bad, frivolous nor earnest; she assumes whatever she considers most suitable to the present moment

But I annoy you?”

”No, you don't Not one bit Mrs Custance's character can bear your satire She is the sweetest and most kindly woman in the world”

”To you she probably is That sweetness is the music to which you are expected to dance I accuse her of no evil intention She is far too prudent to ever repeat her onein love with anyone but herself You may fall in love with her; she expects you to do that

But you need expect no act of iates of love and close thery with Denis, but in the nised that he had heard Sylvia Custance accurately analysed during that unpleasant half-hour's ith Denis Quirk

Denis watched the boy as he strode away towards his honant protest For his own part, Denis desired no further acquaintance with Sylvia Custance He despised her so ht of her was repulsive to his nature

After that one visit he preferred to cultivate old Jackson in his office in the city