rself free from his relaxing arms, and backed away
from him.

"What did you do that for?" she whispered huskily.

But she did not wait for his answer. She turned and hurried for the
stairway. Three steps up she turned again and gazed down upon him. Her
cheeks were once more flushed and her dark eyes blazing.

"It's going to be just as I said!" she flung at him. "I'm going to
succeed--you're going to fail! You just wait and see!"

She turned and ran swiftly up the stairway and out of sight. Neither of
them had been aware that the Duchess, a drab figure merged into a drab
background, had regarded them fixedly during all this scene. And Larry
was still unconscious that the old eyes were now watching him with their
deep-set, expressionless fixity.

Motionless, Larry stood gazing at where Maggie had been. Within him was
tumult; he did not yet understand the significance of that impulsive
kiss... He began to walk the floor, his mind and will now more in
control. Yes, he was going to go straight; he was going to make good,
and make good in a big way! And he was going to make Maggie go straight,
too. He'd show her! It wasn't going to be easy, but he had his big plan
made, and he had determination, and he knew he'd win in the end. Yes,
he'd show her!...

Up before the mirror Maggie sat looking intently at herself. Part of
her consciousness was wondering about that kiss, and part kept fiercely
repeating that she'd show him--she'd show him--she'd show him!...

Looking thus into their futures they were both very certain of
themselves and of the roads which they were to travel.

CHAPTER VII

Larry was still gazing at where Maggie had stood, flashing her defiance
at him, when Hunt came thumping down the stairway.

"Hello, young fellow; what you been doing to Maggie?" demanded the
painter.

"Why?"

"Her door was open when I came by and I called to her. She didn't
answer, but, oh, what a look! What's in the air?"

And then Hunt noted the Duchess apart in her corner. "I say,
Duchess--what were Larry and Maggie rowing about?"

"Grandmother!" Larry exclaimed with a start. "I'd forgotten you were
here! You must have heard it all--go ahead and tell him."

"Tell him yourself," returned the Duchess.

Larry and Hunt took chairs, and Larry gave the gist of what he had said
about his decision to Barney and Old Jimmie and Maggie. The Duchess,
still motionless at her desk as she had been all during Larry's scene
with O