deserved, but a thought
struck him, and he chewed it over. Among the gang of idealists he
consorted with, or at least salooned with, the dearest ambition of all
was to turn America's dream of a vast fleet of ships into a nightmare
of failure. In order to secure "just recognition" for the workman they
would cause him to be recognized as both a loafer and a traitor--that
was their ideal of labor.

As Marie Louise with unwitting enthusiasm rhapsodized over the
shipyard Jake's interest kindled. To get into a shipyard just growing,
and spread his doctrines among the men as they came in, to bring off
strikes and to play tricks with machinery everywhere, to wreck
launching-ways so that hulls that escaped all other attacks would
crack through and stick--it was a Golconda of opportunities for this
modern conquistador. He could hardly keep his face straight till he
heard Marie Louise out. He fooled her entirely with his ardor; and
when he asked, "Do you think your gentleman friend, this man Davidge,
would really give me a job?" she cried, with more enthusiasm than
tact:

"I know he would. He'd give anybody a job. Besides, I'm going to take
one myself. And, Abbie honey, what would you say to your becoming a
ship-builder, too? It would be immensely easier and pleasanter than
washing clothes."

Before Abbie could recover the breath she lost at the picture of
herself as a builder of ships the door-bell rang. Abbie peeked and
whispered:

"It's a man."

"Do you suppose it's that feller Davidge?" said Jake.

"No, it's--it's--somebody else," said Marie Louise, who knew who it
was without looking.

She was at her wit's end now. Nicky Easton was at the door, and a
sister and a brother-in-law whose existence she had not suspected were
in the parlor.

CHAPTER XI

If anything is anybody's very own, it is surely his past, or
hers--particularly hers. But Nicky Easton was bringing one of the most
wretched chapters of Marie Louise's past to her very door. She did not
want to reopen it, especially not before her new-found family. One
likes to have a few illusions left for these reunions. So she said:

"Abbie darling, would you forgive me if I saw this--person alone?
Besides, you'll be wanting to get settled in your room, if Mr.--Ja--your
husband doesn't mind taking your things up."

Abbie had not been used to taking dismissals graciously. She had never
been to court and been permitted to retire. Besides, people who know
ho