"Do you really want to go into that, to-night?"

"Why not to-night? We'll have to go into it soon enough."

Yet when she turned to him he saw the real distress in her face, and his

anger died.

"I didn't want to hurt you, Natalie. I honestly tried. But you know how

I feel about that girl."

"Even the servants know it. It is quite evident."

"We parted quite amiably."

"I dare say! You were relieved that she was going. If you would only be

ordinarily civil to her--oh, don't you see? She could keep Graham from

going into this idiotic war. You can't. I can't. I've tried everything I

know. And she knows she can. She's--hateful about it."

"And you would marry him to that sort of a girl?"

"I'd keep him from being blinded, or mutilated, or being killed."

"You can kill his soul."

"His soul!" She burst into hysterical laughter. "You to talk about

souls! That's--that's funny."

"Natalie, dear." He was very grave, very gentle. "Has it occurred to you

that we are hitting it off rather badly lately?"

She looked at him quickly.

"How? Because I don't think as you do? We got on well enough before this

war came along."

"Do you think it is only that?"

"If it's the house, just remember you gave me carte blanche there."

He made a little gesture of despair.

"I just thought perhaps you are not as happy as you might be."

"Happiness again! Did you come up-stairs to-night, with this thing

hanging over us, to talk about happiness? That's funny, too." But her

eyes were suddenly suspicious. There was something strange in his voice.

"Let's forget that for a moment. Graham will make his own decision. But,

before we leave that, let me tell you that I love him as much as you do.

His going means exactly as much. It's only--"

"Another point we differ on," she finished for him. "Go on. You are

suddenly concerned about my happiness. I'm touched, Clay. You have left

me all winter to go out alone, or with anybody who might be sorry enough

for me to pick me up, and now?" Suddenly her eyes sharpened, and she

drew her breath quickly. "You've seen that scandalous thing in the

paper!"

"It was sent to me."

"Who sent it?"

"A firm of private detectives."




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