ad a partner and he came to me and
said 'Do this thing or I quit you,' whether the thing was right or
wrong, I'd say, 'Go ahead. Quit.' Because if I didn't, from that
moment on, he, not I, would be the boss! So it is with us."

"Then I--am to--go," she said slowly.

"That is for you to say. But if you do go, remember that it is of your
own volition. I want you to stay--you understand?"

She made no answer and he went on:

"One thing is certain. You can't think very much of me, or you
couldn't even think of leaving me like this--"

"It is because I do love you," she cried hysterically, "that I must
leave you. You don't understand that now but, oh! how I hope that some
day you will. Good-bye!"

She went toward the dressing table as if to get her hat and coat. He
halted her with a gesture.

"Just a minute, dear."

She stopped.

"Well?"

Approaching her, he said kindly:

"You are doing a very foolish thing."

She shook her head.

"I'm doing the right thing."

"I don't think so. Aside from marrying her husband, leaving him is the
most serious step a woman can take. Serious steps should be given
great consideration."

"I have considered this," she replied gravely.

"But not enough."

"Oh, yes, I have."

"In the first place you know that since you came into my life I
haven't given any other woman even a thought. You know that, don't
you?"

"Yes."

"In the next place you are leaving me! I am not leaving you. My home
is still open to you and I want you for my wife--"

He stopped and looked at her as if expecting her to say something, but
she was silent and he went on:

"Of course under any circumstances I shall see you are well provided
for."

Virginia made a gesture of dissent.

"Oh, no!" she cried.

"You mean that you wouldn't take-any allowance?"

"Yes! I came to you with nothing--that is what I'll take away."

"Now do be a sensible little woman," he said coaxingly. "If you won't
take anything from me, where are you to go, what are you to do?"

"You seem to forget that I managed to live before I met you!"

"You would try to do as you did then?"

"Why not?"

"Because it's impossible--absolutely impossible."

"I don't think so."

He made an impatient gesture as if any such action were unthinkable.

"Come now, dearie, get all such foolish thoughts out of your head. The
idea is absurd, ridiculous."

"Why?" she demanded.

"Among other reasons is the fact that I wouldn't let you."