ace."

"So soon! I--"

"I will stay as long as I'm needed, of course."

"Oh, no! You're quite right to go at once. I can get some one to do
your work. But not to take your place. I shall--" Jonathan seemed
deeply interested in the crystal paperweight on his desk. "We shall
miss you very much."

"I haven't thanked you--"

"Please don't thank me for anything. I have done nothing any one could
not have done. It is," he said huskily, "it is to my happiness, my
great happiness, if I have been able to help you a very little."

Then he looked up and saw her face.

"Miss Summers! You look overtired--and I have kept you standing. You
must sit down, and let me get you--"

"It is nothing at all." She forced a smile to her lips. "It is only
the reaction from yesterday. The ride home in the car is all I need.
Good night, Mr. Radbourne."

"You are quite sure--"

"Oh, yes. Quite all right, Mr. Radbourne."

"Good night, Miss Summers."

And when she was gone, he sat down and took a small mirror from a
drawer and looked long and sadly at what it recorded. Suddenly he
dropped the mirror and bowed his head on the desk.

"Esther!" It was almost a sob. "If only I could help you now!" . . .

David walked the next morning from the station to Aunt Clara's house.
He walked slowly, because Aunt Clara lived on a hill and because he
dreaded facing Shirley. But he did not have to face her at once. As
he neared the house he saw an automobile, filled almost to overflowing,
roll down the driveway and turn up the street; and Shirley was one of
the party. She did not notice her unexpected visitor.

But as he turned into the grounds he met a little sailor-suited cherub
in tow of a nurse who did not know David. He dropped his bag and
squatted before the child.

"Hello, old man! Aren't you going to shake hands?"

Davy Junior clung tightly to the nurse's skirt, put one chubby finger
into his rosebud mouth and stared, round-eyed, at the big man.

"He's always that way with strangers," the nurse explained.

"Oh!" David winced and stood up. "He's forgotten me, then. When he
has had his walk please bring him to the house. I'd like to get
acquainted with him again. I'm his father, you know." He picked up
his bag and went on to the house.

A few minutes later he was shown into Aunt Clara's sitting-room. She
greeted him in astonishment and offered her cheek for a kiss.

"This is a surprise. Shirley's out, to