pen, and, writing on his knee,
filled out a check rapidly and neatly.

As he handed it to me I noted that the sum was surprisingly large,--
enough for a divorce _de luxe_. "Pardon me, but are n't you overdoing
your generosity, Arnold?" I suggested.

He moved his shoulders very slightly, and I saw his fine, surgeon's
fingers stir as though he were involuntarily washing his hands of the
whole question of money.

"Desire is accustomed to beauty as well as to comfort," he said. Then
he dropped his head on his chest and stared gravely into the fire.
"Mr. Raynie, what do the women want? What do they expect in this
world, anyhow? If the sun had dropped out of the sky, it wouldn't have
surprised me more than this thing has."

{104}

"Nor me," I confessed.

"I have been wondering if I unconsciously neglected Desire? People say
that sometimes causes them to fly the track. I am a busy man. I work
hard in an exacting profession. But, as I understand the marriage
contract, my work is a part of what I endowed her with. It is my life,
myself. We are not children. One does not marry for a playmate, does
one? But perhaps women do. Do you think I can have been at fault in
this matter?"

My only answer was an impatient snort of protest.

"I supposed she desired companionship with me as I am. Certainly that
was what I thought I asked of her. She has such a way of making life
seem vivid and interesting that her companionship was good to have,"
he said.

{105}

Something clutched at my heart strings as I saw the look of
inextinguishable longing in his eyes.

"We spoiled her between us, I suspect," he said. "On our heads be it,
for it is spoiled that she is. Mr. Raynie, I think of Desire as
undisciplined, wayward--not as wanton.--Well, I have a dozen patients
yet to see to-night. I must say good night, and thank you."

As he closed the door, I spoke aloud to myself and the witness-chair.

"There goes a gentleman," I said. "It seems they still exist. Confound
that niece of mine!"

VI

After Desire departed for Reno, the winter dragged along,
heavy-footed.

Mary Greening heard from her often, {106} and brought me the letters.
She rented a cottage in Reno, and began housekeeping bravely, but,
presently, the servant question drove her temporarily to a hotel.

Very shortly we saw in the papers an account of a fire in the same
hotel. This was followed by a telegram from Desire to the effect tha