e that John
Dene had shown hi her discretion, and had felt that she was "doing her
bit." Again, the sense of being behind the scenes pleased her. She
was conscious of knowing secrets that were denied even to Cabinet
Ministers. The members of the War Cabinet knew less than she did about
the _Destroyer_ and what was expected of it.

John Dene was a man who did everything thoroughly. If he trusted
anyone, he did it implicitly; if he distrusted anyone, he did it
uncompromisingly. Where he liked, he liked to excess; where he
disliked, he disliked to the elimination of all good qualities. Half
measures did not exist for John Dene of Toronto.

When Dorothy discovered that all the old intimacy had passed away, and
John Dene had become merely an employer, treating her as a secretary,
she was conscious that the glamour had fallen from her work. Somehow
or other the _Destroyer_ had receded into something impersonal, whereas
hitherto it had appeared to her as if she had been in some way or other
intimately associated with it.

It was all very strange and very puzzling, she told herself. Sometimes
she wondered if she had done anything to annoy him. Then she told
herself that there was something more than personal pique in his
manner. His whole bearing seemed to have changed, as if he had decided
to regard her merely as a piece of mechanism, just as he did the
typewriter, or his office chair.

It was at this period of her reasoning that Dorothy discovered her
dignity. From that time her attitude was that of the injured woman,
yet perfect secretary. Her sense of humour had deserted her, and she
arrived at the office and left it very much upon her dignity. Even
Mrs. West noticed the difference in her manner, and at last enquired if
anything were wrong, or if she were unwell; but Dorothy reassured her
with a hug and a kiss, and for the rest of that evening had been
particularly bright and vivacious.

When Mrs. West mentioned the name of John Dene, Dorothy did not pursue
the topic, although Mrs. West failed to notice that she was switched
off to other subjects.

At the end of the week she noticed that John Dene handed her the week's
salary in notes. Hitherto it had been his custom to place the money in
an envelope and put it on her table. She concluded that this new
method was to impress upon her that she was a dependent, and that the
old relationship between them had been severed. That evening, Dorothy
was always