t her affection go for granted. Her talk was not
of the subjects usually discussed by an engaged couple--of their
coming marriage (though no date had been fixed) and a home and
prospective joys together; it dealt wholly with amusements, dances,
friends at Kennard. And though her own eyes glistened at the recital,
Lee's lost their light and his speech was quenched. For his was the
role of an outsider.

Certain friendships that she maintained, moreover, were exceedingly
distasteful to him.

"Ruth, I've nothing against your going around so much with
Gretzinger," he said one evening, "except that I don't like the fellow
and believe he's crooked, and it may, under the circumstances, create
gossip."

"Nonsense, Lee, don't be jealous. Gretzie never takes me anywhere
except in a crowd. And don't say he's crooked, or I shall be angry."

"Well, let him pass," he went on. "It's Charlie Menocal I've more in
mind. He talks openly against my project; he calls me a thief and a
ruffian; he's an avowed enemy. Yet you run around with him as if that
were of no importance, as if it made no difference. The scoundrel no
doubt counts it a brilliant bit of smartness to carry about in his car
the fiancee of the man he hates, and brags of it. It reflects on us
both, Ruth. I ask you to consider my feelings at least that far."

She regarded him speculatively for a time. Then the touch of obstinacy
hardened her chin and pushed up her under lip the barest trifle. But
there was no resentment in her voice when she answered and, indeed,
her tone was too casual.

"Oh, nobody pays any particular attention to what Charlie says," she
remarked. "You surely don't really believe what you've just stated
about his bragging? I don't. Of course, he hasn't brains like Mr.
Gretzinger, but he's gentlemanly. And he's very kind. And so is Mr.
Menocal, his father. I've eaten dinner with a party of young folks at
their house twice. Your ideas of them are altogether wrong, for
they've been at pains to tell me that a business difference like that
with you shouldn't affect personal relations. I think the same. But
that isn't all. You never take me anywhere, you won't go to the
parties and shows and things. Am I to sit here every day and every
night at Sarita Creek until your canal is built?" By now her words
were not only casual but carried a trace of disdainfulness.

"No, Ruth," said he. "I want you to have a good time and derive every
pleasure that you rightly c