hat you substituted common sense for immature
impulse in dealing with present problems."

His voice was cold, emotionless, unpleasant. She stood with the receiver
at her ears, flushing to the tips of them under his rebuke. She always
did; she had known many, recently, but the quick pang of pain was never
any less keen. On the contrary.

"Don't you want to see me? I have been away for ten days."

"Yes, I want to see you, of course, but I'm not anxious to spring a mine
under myself--under us both by going into your house at this time."

"My brother has not been here in a week."

"Does that accidental fact bar his possible appearance ten minutes from
now?"

She wondered, vaguely, whether he was afraid of anything except possible
damage to her reputation. She had, lately, considered this question on
several occasions. Being no coward, as far as mere fear for her life was
concerned, she found it difficult to attribute such fear to him. Indeed,
one of the traits in her which he found inexplicable and which he
disliked was a curious fearlessness of death--not uncommon among women
who, all their lives, have had little to live for.

She said: "If I am not worth a little risk, what is my value to you?"

"You talk like a baby," he retorted. "Is an interview worth risking a
scandal that will spatter the whole town?"

"I never count such risks," she said wearily. "Do as you please."

His voice became angry: "Haven't I enough to face already without
hunting more trouble at present? I supposed I could look to you for
sympathy and aid and common sense, and every day you call me up and
demand that I shall drop everything and fling caution to the winds, and
meet you somewhere! Every day of the year you do it----"

"I have been away ten days--" she faltered, turning sick and white at
the words he was shouting through the telephone.

"Well, it was understood you'd stay for a month, wasn't it? Can't you
give me time to turn around? Can't you give me half a chance? Do you
realise what I'm facing? _Do_ you?"

"Yes. I'm sorry I called you; I was so miserable and lonely----"

"Well, try to think of somebody besides yourself. You're not the only
miserable person in this city. I've all the misery I can carry at
present; and if you wish to help me, don't make any demands on me until
I'm clear of the tangle that's choking me."

"Dear, I only wanted to help you--" she stammered, appalled at his tone
and words.

"All right, then, l