o Thomas that covered the situation.

"I found what the trouble was, Thomas," he said. "It will be all right
when we get back. But don't keep dinner."

He took a cab to Brace's. He was too distraught to put himself on
exhibition in a public conveyance. Brace sat in lonely but apparently
contented state at the head of his table.

"Bully for you, old man," he greeted. "You were never more welcome. I'll
have a plate put on for you at once. What's the matter? You look--"

"Ken, where's Betty?"

"Run away to herself, Con. Went yesterday. Goes less and less often, but
she cut yesterday."

"Has--has Lynda been here to-day?"

"Yes. About three. When she found Betty gone, she wouldn't stay. Sit
down, old man. You'll learn, as I have, to appreciate Lyn more if she
isn't always where we men have thought women ought to be."

Truedale sat down opposite Kendall but said he would take only a cup of
coffee. When it was finished he rose, more steadily, and said quietly:

"I know it's unwritten law, Ken, that we shouldn't follow Betty up
without an invitation; but I've got to go over there to-night."

"It's dangerous, old man. I advise against it. What's up?"

"I must see Lyn. I believe she is there."

"Rather a large-sized misunderstanding?"

"I hope, Ken, God helping me, it's going to be the biggest
_understanding_ Lynda and I have ever had."

Kendall was impressed--and, consequently, silent.

"I'm sure Betty will forgive me. Good-night."

"Good-night, old chap, and--and whatever it is, I fancy it will come out
all right."

And then, into the night Truedale plunged--determined to master the
absurd situation that both he and Lynda had permitted to exist. He felt
like a man who had been suffering in a nightmare and had just awakened
and shaken off the effect of the unholy dream.

CHAPTER XIX

Lynda, that winter day, had undertaken her task with unwonted energy.
She had never done a similar piece of work before. In her early
beginning she had rather despised the inadequacy of women who, no matter
what might be said in defense of their ignorance regarding the rest of
their homes, did not know how to design and plan their own nurseries.
Later she had eliminated designing of this kind because so few asked for
it, and it did not pay to put much time on study in preparation for the
rare occasions when nurseries were included in the orders. But this was
an exception. A woman who had lost three children was expecti