have had a good deal to do with houses," continued Mr. Snow. "They
are my life work. I find that invariably they are built for a woman.
Almost always they are built from her plans, and for her pleasure. It's
a new house, a unique house, a wonderful house you're evolving here. It
must be truly a wonderful woman you're dreaming about while you build
it."

That was a nasty little trap. With his years and worldly experience
Peter should not have fallen into it; but all men are children when they
are sick, heart sick or body sick, and Peter was a very sick man at that
minute. He had been addressed in such a frank and casual manner. His own
brain shot off at queer tangents and led him constantly into unexpected
places. The narrow side lane that opened up came into view so suddenly
that Peter, with the innocence of a four-year-old, turned with military
precision at the suggestion and looked over the premises for the exact
location of Linda. Eugene Snow had seen for himself the thing that Katy
had told him he would see if he looked for it. Suddenly he held out his
hand.

"As man to man, Morrison, in this instance," he said in rather a hoarse,
breathless voice, "don't you think it would be a good idea for you and
me to assert our manhood, to manage our own affairs, to select our
own wives if need be? If we really set ourselves to the job don't you
believe we can work out our lives more to our liking than anyone else
can plan for us? You get the idea, don't you, Morrison?"

Peter was facing the kitchen sink but he did not see it. His brain was
whirling. He did see Snow's point of view. He did realize his position.
But what Mr. Snow knew of his affairs he could only guess. The one
thing Mr. Snow could not know was that Linda frankly admitted her
prepossession for her school chum, Donald Whiting, but in any event
if Peter could not have Linda he would much prefer occupying his dream
house alone. So he caught at the straw held out to him with both hands.

"I get you," he said tersely. "It is not quite up to the mark of the
manhood we like to think we possess to let our lives be engineered by
a high school kid. Suppose we do just quietly and masterfully assert
ourselves concerning our own affairs."

"Suppose we do," said Snow with finality.

Whereupon they shook hands with a grip that whitened their knuckles.

Then they went back to Lilac Valley and had their dinner together, and
Linda and Peter escorted Eugene Snow to his tra