devotion of a lifetime can repay."

"Ah, yes," says Wilmarth, "you would naturally take an interest in her
fortune."

"If you mean by that, wealth," and he feels as if he could throttle the
man, "I shall care for her interest as I do for my mother, or my
sisters. Whatever the result, it is all in her hands; I had no need to
marry for money."

"We have digressed widely," suggests Wilmarth, and he hesitates, a
little uncertain how to make the next move tell the most cuttingly.

"But you see, with all this in view, I am not likely to rush headlong
to ruin. I have taken some of the best counsel I could find. My
experience is that a man who firmly believes in the success of what he
undertakes is much more likely to succeed, and this Lindmeyer does.
Rising has had charge of a large factory in England. The least I can do
is to give them every chance in my power to do their best, and that
they shall have."

"And the men?"

"They have acted according to their best judgment," and now it is
Grandon's turn to smile grimly. "They may be mistaken; if so, that is
their misfortune. I hold steadfastly to _my_ men until the month ends,
and their success will decide the new arrangements."

Again Jasper Wilmarth has been worsted. When he started the disaffection
among the men he did not count on its culmination quite so soon, and again
he has unwittingly played into Floyd Grandon's hands; how fatally he knows
best himself.

"Then the men are to consider themselves discharged."

"They are to consider that they discharged themselves," says the master
of the situation.

CHAPTER XII.

If you observe us you will find us in our manners and way of living
most like wasps.--ARISTOPHANES.

She sits on the wide, fragrant porch with her lovely stepdaughter,
watching for the return of her husband and his German friend, with whom
he has no end of business. Certainly Violet makes a most amiable wife.
She finds no fault with the all-engrossing business, even in this
honeymoon month, but contents herself with Cecil and Denise, with rides
and walks, and days spent at the cottage. Denise instructs her in
cookery, but she feels as if she should never need the knowledge, since
Mrs. Grandon _mere_ is at the head of the great house, with servants to
do her bidding.

Violet is musing now over a talk had with Gertrude this afternoon. She
was trying to persuade her to join them for a drive. It seems such a
dreary life to lie here on the so