was puzzled. Could it be possible he had misjudged her?
Could it be possible that her professions of love and admiration had
been genuine? His hunger for sympathy was so keen, his sense of
loneliness in his fight so utter, he could not help allowing himself
the luxury of a momentary doubt.

She pressed his hand warmly and lingeringly.

"Oh, Jim, I'm so glad you've come! Why have you stayed away so long? It
was so foolish of you. You gave up without a struggle. I'm shocked
beyond measure at Nan."

Stuart's heart gave a bound of hope and he looked with fierce
earnestness into the mother's face. It was only for an instant. Her
eyes roamed and shifted and her tongue went faster.

"I told her that his millions would never bring happiness unless her
heart went with them--that her love for you was a thing she couldn't
lay aside as a cloak she had worn."

When Mrs. Primrose's eyes blinked and turned away under Stuart's gaze,
he knew that she was lying again and ceased to listen.

"Well, I haven't given her up yet, Mrs. Primrose," he said bluntly.

"I knew you wouldn't, Jim. And I told Nan the day she promised to marry
Mr. Bivens that you were worth a dozen such men, no matter how many
millions he had. You have always been my choice--you know that. How she
could throw you over for a little scrap of a man like that is beyond
me."

Stuart could control himself no longer. He rose and faced Mrs. Primrose
with a look which brought her eloquence to an abrupt end.

"Mrs. Primrose, for once in my life I am going to tell you the truth."

"Why, you always do Jim," she feebly answered.

"I never do. Your example has been contagious. I've had to play out the
farce with you. To-day I won't play. I'm too hurt, angry, wounded,
sore. You have always been my bitterest foe. You brought Nan to New
York to get her away from me."

The mother's eyes blazed with honest wrath.

"Yes, I did--and I'm glad I did it--you ungrateful wretch!"

"And you have always been busy poisoning her mind against me and
corrupting her imagination with dreams of a life of luxury."

"And thank God I've succeeded at last in bringing her to her senses in
time to save her from throwing herself away on you, Jim Stuart!"

"Thank you, mother dear, we understand each other now----"

"Don't you dare call me mother, sir!"

"Why not? I'm going to win in the end, and you're on my side. You know
that I'm worth a dozen such fellows as the little scrap of a man on