Natalie blew a tiny cloud of cigaret smoke, and watched it for a moment.

"You sound fearfully involved. But never mind about that. I daresay I've

done something; I don't know what, but of course I am guilty."

"Why did you bring Marion here to-day, mother?"

"Well, if you want to know exactly, I met her coming out of church, and

it occurred to me that we were having rather a nice luncheon, and

that it would be a pity not to ask some one to come in. It was a nice

luncheon, wasn't it?"

"That's why you asked her? For food?"

"Brutally put, but correct."

"You have been asking her here a lot lately. And yet the last time we

discussed her you said she was fast. That she wanted to marry me for my

money. That people would laugh if I fell for it."

"I hardly used those words, did I?"

"For heaven's sake, mother," he cried, exasperated. "Don't quibble.

Let's get down to facts. Does your bringing her here mean that you've

changed your mind?"

Natalie considered. She was afraid of too quick a surrender lest he grow

suspicious. She decided to temporize, with the affectation of frankness

that had once deceived Clayton, and that still, she knew, affected

Graham.

"I'll tell you exactly," she said, slowly. "At first I thought it was

just an infatuation. And--you really are young, Graham, although you

look and act like such a man. But I feel, now that time has gone on and

you still care about her, that after all, your happiness is all that

matters."

"Mother!"

But she held up her hand.

"Remember, I am only speaking for myself. My dearest wish is to make you

happy. You are all I have. But I cannot help you very much. Your father

looks at those things differently. He doesn't quite realize that you are

grown up, and have a right to decide some things for yourself."

"He has moved me up, raised my salary."

"That's different. You're valuable to him, naturally. I don't mean he

doesn't love you," she added hastily, as Graham wheeled and stared at

her. "Of course he does, in his own way. It's not my way, but then--I'm

only a woman and a mother."

"You think he'll object?"

"I think he must be handled. If you rush at him, and demand the right to

live your own life--"




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