like that," Larry agreed.

"Well, Larry, old son, you were right again! I've been a worse fool
than all you said. Been blinder than one of those varnished skulls some
tough-stomached people use for paper-weights. After she'd said 'yes'
she gave me the inside story of why we had fallen out. And guess why it
was?"

"You don't want me to guess. You want to tell me. So go to it."

"Larry, we men will never know how clever women really are!" Hunt
shook his head with impressive emphasis. "Nor how they understand our
natures--the clever women--nor how well they know how to handle us. She
confessed that our quarrel was, on her part, carefully planned from
the beginning with a definite result in view. She told me she'd always
believed me a great painter, if I'd only break loose from the pretty
things people wanted and paid me so much for. The trouble, as she saw
it, was to get me to cut loose from so much easy money and devote myself
entirely to real stuff. The only way she could see was for her to tell
me I couldn't paint anything worth while, and tell it so straight-out
as to make me believe that she believed it--and thus make me so mad that
I'd chuck everything and go off to prove to her that I damned well could
paint! I certainly got sore--I ducked out of sight, swearing I'd show
her--and, oh, well, you know the rest! Tell me now, can you think of
anything cleverer than the way she handled me?"

"It's just about what I would expect of Miss Sherwood," Larry commented.

"Excuse me," said a voice behind them. "I found the door open; may I
come in?"

Both men turned quickly. Entering was Miss Sherwood.

"Isabel!" exclaimed the happy painter. "I was just telling Larry
here--you know!"

Miss Sherwood's tone tried to be severe, and she tried not to smile--and
she succeeded in being just herself.

"I came to talk business with Mr. Brainard. And I'm going to stay to
talk business with Mr. Brainard. But I'll give him five seconds for
congratulations--provided at the end of the five seconds Mr. Hunt gets
out of the room."

Larry congratulated the two; congratulated them as warmly as he felt
his as yet dubious position in this company warranted. At the end of the
five seconds Hunt was closing the door upon his back.

"I've always loved him--and I want to thank you, Mr. Brainard," she said
with her simple directness. And before Larry could make response of any
kind, she shifted the subject.

"I really came in to see you on