She sighed, and going to her desk, took out of it the letter which she

had received in the morning mail.

She knew that the moment that she announced the contents of that letter

would be a dramatic one. Even if she did it quietly, it would have the

effect of a bomb thrown into the midst of a peaceful circle. She had a

fancy that it would be best to tell Porter first. He was to come back

to dinner, so she dressed and went down early.

He found her in the garden. There were double rows of hyacinths in the

paths now, with tulips coming up between, and beyond the fountain was

an amethyst sky where the young moon showed.

She rose to greet him, her hands full of fragrant blossoms.

He held her hand tightly. "How happy you look, Mary."

"I am happy."

"Because I'm here? If you could only say that once truthfully."

"It is always good to have you," "But you won't tell a lie, and say you're happier, because of my

coming? Oh, Contrary Mary!"

She shook her head. "If I said nice things to you, you'd

misunderstand."

"Perhaps. But why this radiance?"

"Good news."

"From whom?"

"A man."

"What man?" with rising jealousy.

"One who has given me the thing I want."

He was plainly puzzled.

"I don't know what you mean."

"A letter came this morning--a lovely letter in a long envelope."

She took a paper out of a magazine which lay on the stone bench by her

side. "Read that," she said.

He read and his face went perfectly white, so that it showed chalkily

beneath his red hair.

"Mary," he said, "what have you done this for? You know I'm not going

to let you."

"You haven't anything to do with it."

"But I have. It is ridiculous. You don't know what you are doing.

You've never been tied to an office desk--you've never fought and

struggled with the world."

"Neither have you, Porter."

"Well, if I haven't, is it my fault?" he demanded, "I was born into the

world with this millstone of money around my neck, and a red head. Dad

sent me to school and to college, and he set me up in business. There

wasn't anything left for me to do but to keep straight, and I've done

that for you."




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