ady to pull himself together and show the
world that it was indulging too soon in its hypocritical headshakings
over his ruin.

"I am going to open an office of my own at once," he said to his sister.

She did not wish to discourage him, but she could not altogether keep
her thoughts from her face. She had, in a general way, a clear idea of
the complete system of tollgates, duly equipped with strong barriers,
which the mighty few have established across practically all the
highroads to material success. Also, she felt in her brother's manner
and tone a certain profound discouragement, a lack of the unconquerable
spirit which had carried him so far so speedily. It is not a baseless
notion that the man who has never been beaten is often destroyed by his
first reverse. Ursula feared the spell of success had been broken for
him.

"You mean," she suggested, with apparent carelessness, "that you will
give up your forty thousand a year?"

He made a disdainful gesture. "I can make more than that," said he.
"It's a second rate lawyer who can't in this day."

"Of course you can," replied she tactfully. "But why not take a rest
first? Then there's old Burroughs--on the war path. Wouldn't it be wise
to wait till he calms down?"

"If Burroughs or any other man is necessary to me," rejoined Fred, "the
sooner I find it out the better. I ought to know just where I--I
myself--stand."

"No one is necessary to you but yourself," said Ursula, proudly and
sincerely. "But, Fred--Are you yourself just now?"

"No, I'm not," admitted he. "But the way to become so again isn't by
waiting but by working." An expression of sheer wretchedness came into
his listless, heavy eyes. "Urse, I've got to conquer my weakness now, or
go under."

She was eager to hold on to the secure forty thousand a year--for his
sake no less than for her own. She argued with him with all the
adroitness of a mind as good in its way as his own. But she could not
shake his resolution. And she in prudence, desisted when he said
bitterly: "I see you've lost confidence in me. Well, I don't blame
you. . . . So have I." Then after a moment, violently rather than strongly:
"But I've got to get it back. If I don't I'm only putting off the
smash--a complete smash."

"I don't see quite how it's to be arranged," said she, red and
hesitating. For, she feared he would think her altogether selfish in her
anxiety. He certainly would have been justified in so thinking; he knew