in Wall Street. She knew he bought and sold stocks sometimes. That is
only what every investor does. But it was incredible that he was
involved to the extent Keralio said he was. She knew he was ambitious
to acquire wealth, but that he would take such fearful risks and
jeopardize funds which, after all, belonged, not to him, but to the
stockholders--that was impossible. It was a horrible libel.

Still another cause for worry was the health of her little daughter,
Dorothy. Nothing ailed the child particularly, but she was not well.
The doctor said nothing was the matter, but a slight temperature
persisted, together with a cough which, naturally, alarmed the young
mother out of all proportion to the seriousness of the case. The
doctor also advised a change of air, so Helen at once made arrangements
to send her little daughter to Philadelphia, where, in Aunt Carrie's
beautiful house, she would have the best air and attention in the
world. Aunt Carrie came to New York to fetch the child, and, as she
stayed a couple of weeks sight-seeing and visiting friends that also
helped to keep Helen busy.

"I do wish that I didn't have such a worrying disposition"--she laughed
nervously after the lawyer had been at some pains to assure her about
the sea-worthiness of the _Abyssinia_. "Really, it makes me so
unhappy, but I simply can't help it. The other day it was baby who
made me terribly anxious; now it is Kenneth's home-coming. I must seem
very foolish to you all."

Ray quickly protested.

"You sweet thing--how could you look foolish? What an idea! Only
please don't worry, dear. I never do."

Mr. Steell nodded sympathetically.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of, Mrs. Traynor. It shows you have a
fine, sensitive nature. It is only the grosser natures that are
callous and unaffected by the anxieties of life."

Taking the remarks to herself, Ray threw up her head indignantly.

"I deny the imputation that I'm gross."

The lawyer laughed.

"You are far too healthy to worry. Moreover, you have nothing to worry
about. If a man you loved were six thousand miles away----"

"Yes," interrupted Helen; "that's it. Only those who care for each
other can understand----"

"Oh, of course!" retorted her sister, flaring up. "We spinsters,
belonging, as we do, to the sisterhood of the Great Unloved, are quite
incompetent to express an intelligent opinion on that or on any other
matter. I grant that, but is Mr. Steell,