rett wants to know if he may speak to
you in the library."

She went down mechanically.

"Now, Katie," he began quietly and authoritatively, "there are several
orders you must give, several things you must attend to, in relation
to your dinner. Things seem a little disorganized, and it's getting
late, and it won't do, you know, to get these people upset. Now Nora
tells me that through some complication or other you're two champagne
glasses short."

Katie was staring at him. "And is _that_ all that matters? Two champagne
glasses short! And here a life--Why what kind of people are we?"

"Katie," he said, his voice well controlled, "we're just that kind of
people. No matter what's at stake--no matter what we're thinking about
things--or about each other--the thing we've got to do now--you know
it--and you're going to do it--is go ahead with this affair."

"I'm not going to have it! Why what do you think I'm made of? I won't.
Telephone them. Call it off. I tell you I can't."

"Katie, you think you can't, and yet you know you will. I know exactly
what you're made of. I know what your father was made of. I know what
your mother was made of. I know that no matter what it costs
_you_--you'll go on as if nothing had occurred. Now will you telephone
Prescott, or shall I? Ask him about the glasses. And if he can't do
anything for you you'll have to call up Zelda at Miss Osborne's and tell
the girls they can't come unless they each bring a glass. I'll do it if
you want me to. They'll think it a great lark, you know, having to bring
their own glasses or getting no champagne."

"Yes," whispered Katie, "they'll think it a great lark. For that
matter--everything's a great lark."

She sank to a chair. Her tears were falling as she said again that
everything was a great lark. He paid no attention to her but went to the
telephone.

But the tears were interrupted. "Miss Kate," said Nora, "can you come and
look at the table a minute? They want to know--"

She dried her eyes as best she could and went and looked at the table.

She kept on looking at things--doing things--until she heard the bell.

"If that's some one for me, Nora," she said, "show him in here, and
don't interrupt me while he's here." She passed into a small room they
used as a den.

He came to her there. And when she saw that it was indeed he she
broke down.

"Something is the matter?" he asked gently. "You wanted me? You
sent for me?"

She raised her hea