.
He dared not lift them to Shirley's, lest he see there a truth he had
not the courage to face just then. After a little he rose, went to the
door and opened it.

"Will you come in now?" he nodded to Aunt Clara. "The family council
is over."

Aunt Clara marched into the room.

"Well, what have you decided?"

"Shirley has convinced me," he smiled queerly, "that you are right.
But your hospitality is all we ought to accept. For her other expenses
I will send something from my salary every month."

"But that isn't what I--"

"I'm afraid," he interrupted quietly, "you will have to concede so much
to me--and sentiment." . . .

In the morning Aunt Clara left.

"This is what comes," was her benediction, "of marrying before you're
ready and living beyond your means. I hope it will be a lesson to you
never to do it again."

David was too tired to smile.

The rest of that week was too full for much thinking. The office was
to be cleaned out. Trunks were to be packed, china and silver and
bric-a-brac to be wrapped and boxed for storage, a thousand little
preparations for moving when a new tenant for the apartment should have
been found. David was grateful for that. He did not want time to
think. Especially he did not want time to feel.

On Sunday morning he took Shirley and Davy Junior to the train. Not
once did he let the baby out of his arms. At the very last a doubt
seemed to disturb Shirley.

"David--" They were sitting in the station waiting-room then. "David,
it's dear of you to let me go like this."

"It's better than moping around here."

"You don't think I'm selfish in wanting to go, do you?"

He shook his head and kept his eyes on the child's face.

"It doesn't mean I don't love you--oh, with all my heart! I'll be so
lonesome for you. I'll be thinking of you all the time and write you
every day. And when I come back--! Do you know, dear, I have the
feeling that now, with the new position and the debts cleaned up soon,
things are going to be different with us, so much brighter."

"Why, I think so, Shirley."

"I'm sure of it." She squeezed his hand. "When people love as we do,
things just have to come out right."

"Yes, Shirley."

The gates were thrown open and they went out on the platform. The
train thundered in. David took Shirley and Davy Junior into their car.
He kissed her hastily and lingered longer over his good-by to the baby.
Then he ran out of the car and stood a