business and can't be helped."

"Don't go, Roswell," pleaded Marion, and she turned her head away so
that he could not look into her face.

"I must, my darling. I must," he answered, and she felt his arms about
her. She hid her face on his breast, and, ashamed of her unworthiness,
she felt afraid to be left alone. "Good-by, dear," he said, and kissed
her tenderly on her forehead. They walked silently through the hallway
to the little French room, by the door. They found Duncan there,
wandering carelessly about examining the ornaments. Stepping up to him,
Roswell put out his hand and said simply: "I must leave you, Grahame. I
have just time to catch my train. Sit here and finish your cigar. My
wife will do her best to amuse you."

Duncan muttered a word of parting and Roswell hurried into the hallway.
Marion took a seat in the farther end of the room and gazed thoughtfully
toward the door where her husband had left. She could hear him putting
on his coat and then the door closed behind him. The carriage rolled
off, and as the last echo of the wheels died away she realized that she
was alone with the man who had played such a strange part in her life.
She felt brave now. The danger was past and her only thought was to
prove worthy of the confidence her husband had placed in her. She looked
at Duncan, wondering what his first move would be. He took a few steps
on the floor. His eyes seemed to sparkle with merriment. "Well, I must
say," he said, stopping in his desultory wandering and plunging his
hands into his pockets, "that husband of yours is the most convenient
person that I ever came across." Marion cast an angry glance toward him.
All the resentment in her nature was aroused by these coarse words. Her
dream of months had vanished, and in its place was a repulsive reality.

Duncan came toward her with a confident step and tried to take her hand.
Marion jumped to her feet and pushed him back. "Don't touch me," she
cried.

Duncan laughed. This new-found anger amused him and he did not believe
she was in earnest. "Marion, dearest, we are alone," he said ardently.
"We can enjoy our love and no one will interrupt."

He made another movement toward her. She drew back and looked defiantly
at him.

"I hate you," she said. "Can't you see that I hate you."

"Hate is the first step to love," answered Duncan, still amused by her
anger. "Let it fade away for I want to see love smile from those
bewitching eyes."

Then he