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But Barker did not notice it。 〃Captain Heath； my husband；〃 she
went on； carelessly rising and smoothing her skirts。 The captain；
who had risen too； bowed vaguely at the introduction； but Barker
extended his hand frankly。 〃I found Stacy busy；〃 he said in answer
to his wife； 〃but he is coming to dine with us to…night。〃
〃If you mean Jim Stacy； the banker；〃 said Captain Heath； brightening
into greater ease； 〃he's the busiest man in California。 I've seen
men standing in a queue outside his door as in the old days at the
post…office。 And he only gives you five minutes and no extension。
So you and he were partners once？〃 he said； looking curiously at the
still youthful Barker。
But it was Mrs。 Barker who answered； 〃Oh yes！ and always such good
friends。 I was awfully jealous of him。〃 Nevertheless； she did not
respond to the affectionate protest in Barker's eyes nor to the
laugh of Captain Heath； but glanced indifferently around the room
as if to leave further conversation to the two men。 It was
possible that she was beginning to feel that Captain Heath was as
de trop now as her husband had been a moment before。 Standing
there； however； between them both； idly tracing a pattern on the
carpet with the toe of her slipper； she looked prettier than she
had ever looked as Kitty Carter。 Her slight figure was more fully
developed。 That artificial severity covering a natural virgin
coyness with which she used to wait at table in her father's hotel
at Boomville had gone； and was replaced by a satisfied consciousness
of her power to please。 Her glance was freer； but not as frank as
in those days。 Her dress was undoubtedly richer and more stylish；
yet Barker's loyal heart often reverted fondly to the chintz gown；
coquettishly frilled apron； and spotless cuffs and collar in which
she had handed him his coffee with a faint color that left his own
face crimson。
Captain Heath's tact being equal to her indifference； he had
excused himself； although he was becoming interested in this
youthful husband。 But Mrs。 Barker； after having asserted her
husband's distinction as the equal friend of the millionaire； was
by no means willing that the captain should be further interested
in Barker for himself alone； and did not urge him to stay。 As he
departed she turned to her husband； and； indicating the group he
had passed the moment before； said：
〃That horrid woman has been staring at us all the time。 I don't
see what you see in her to admire。〃
Poor Barker's admiration had been limited to a few words of
civility in the enforced contact of that huge caravansary and in
his quiet； youthful recognition of her striking personality。 But
he was just then too preoccupied with his interview with Stacy to
reply； and perhaps he did not quite understand his wife。 It was
odd how many things he did not quite understand now about Kitty；
but that he knew must be HIS fault。 But Mrs。 Barker apparently did
not require； after the fashion of her sex； a reply。 For the next
moment； as they moved towards their rooms； she said impatiently；
〃Well； you don't tell what Stacy said。 Did you get the money？〃
I grieve to say that this soul of truth and frankness liedonly to
his wife。 Perhaps he considered it only lying to HIMSELF； a thing
of which he was at times miserably conscious。 〃It wasn't
necessary； dear；〃 he said； 〃he advised me to sell my securities in
the bank； and if you only knew how dreadfully busy he is。〃
Mrs。 Barker curled her pretty lip。 〃It doesn't take very long to
lend ten thousand dollars！〃 she said。 〃But that's what I always
tell you。 You have about made me sick by singing the praises of
those wonderful partners of yours； and here you ask a favor of one
of them and he tells you to sell your securities！ And you know；
and he knows； they're worth next to nothing。〃
〃You don't understand； dear〃began Barker。
〃I understand that you've given your word to poor Harry；〃 said Mrs。
Barker in pretty indignation； 〃who's responsible for the Ditch
purchase。〃
〃And I shall keep it。 I always do；〃 said Barker very quietly； but
with that same singular expression of face that had puzzled Stacy。
But Mrs。 Barker； who； perhaps； knew her husband better； said in an
altered voice：
〃But HOW can you； dear？〃
〃If I'm short a thousand or two I'll ask your father。〃
Mrs。 Barker was silent。 〃Father's so very much harried now； George。
Why don't you simply throw the whole thing up？〃
〃But I've given my word to your cousin Henry。〃
〃Yes； but only your WORD。 There was no written agreement。 And you
couldn't even hold him to it。〃
Barker opened his frank eyes in astonishment。 Her own cousin； too！
And they were Stacy's very words！
〃Besides；〃 added Mrs。 Barker audaciously； 〃he could get rid of it
elsewhere。 He had another offer； but he thought yours the best。
So don't be silly。〃
By this time they had reached their rooms。 Barker； apparently
dismissing the subject from his mind with characteristic buoyancy；
turned into the bedroom and walked smilingly towards a small crib
which stood in the corner。 〃Why； he's gone！〃 he said in some
dismay。
〃Well；〃 said Mrs。 Barker a little impatiently； 〃you didn't expect
me to take him into the public parlor； where I was seeing visitors；
did you？ I sent him out with the nurse into the lower hall to play
with the other children。〃
A shade momentarily passed over Barker's face。 He always looked
forward to meeting the child when he came back。 He had a belief；
based on no grounds whatever； that the little creature understood
him。 And he had a father's doubt of the wholesomeness of other
people's children who were born into the world indiscriminately and
not under the exceptional conditions of his own。 〃I'll go and
fetch him；〃 he said。
〃You haven't told me anything about your interview； what you did
and what your good friend Stacy said；〃 said Mrs。 Barker； dropping
languidly into a chair。 〃And really if you are simply running away
again after that child； I might just as well have asked Captain
Heath to stay longer。〃
〃Oh； as to Stacy；〃 said Barker； dropping beside her and taking her
hand； 〃well； dear； he was awfully busy； you know； and shut up in
the innermost office like the agate in one of the Japanese nests of
boxes。 But；〃 he continued； brightening up； 〃just the same dear old
Jim Stacy of Heavy Tree Hill； when I first knew you。 Lord！ dear；
how it all came back to me！ That day I proposed to you in the
belief that I was unexpectedly rich and even bought a claim for the
boys on the strength of it； and how I came back to them to find
that they had made a big strike on the very claim。 Lord！ I
remember how I was so afraid to tell them about youand how they
guessed itthat dear old Stacy one of the first。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Mrs。 Barker； 〃and I hope your friend Stacy remembered
that but for ME； when you found out that you were not rich； you'd
have given up the claim； but that I really deceived my own father
to make you keep it。 I've often worried over that； George；〃 she
said pensively； turning a diamond bracelet around her pretty wrist；
〃although I never said anything about it。〃
〃But； Kitty darling；〃 said Barker； grasping his wife's hand； 〃I
gave my note for it； you know you said that was bargain enough； and
I had better wait until the note was due； and until I found I
couldn't pay； before I gave up the claim。 It was very clever of
you； and the boys all said so； too。 But you never deceived your
father； dear；〃 he said； looking at her gravely； 〃for I should have
told him everything。〃
〃Of course； if you look at it in that way；〃 said his wife
languidly； 〃it's nothing； only I think it ought to be remembered
when people go about saying papa ruined you with his hotel schemes。〃
〃Who dares say that？〃 said Barker indignantly。
〃Well； if they don't SAY it they look it；〃 said Mrs。 Barker； with a
toss of her pretty head； 〃and I believe that's at the bottom of
Stacy's refusal。〃
〃But he never said a word； Kitty；〃 said Barker； flushing。
〃There； don't excite yourself； George；〃 said Mrs。 Barker resignedly；
〃but go for the baby。 I know you're dying to go； and I suppose it's
time Norah brought it upstairs。〃
At any other time Barker would have lingered with explanations； but
just then a deeper sense than usual of some misunderstanding made
him anxious to shorten this domestic colloquy。 He rose； pressed
his wife's hand； and went out。 But yet he was not entirely
satisfied with himself for leaving her。 〃I suppose it isn't right
my going off as soon as I come in；〃 he murmured reproachfully to
himself； 〃but I think she wants the baby back as much as I； only；
womanlike； she didn't care to let me know it。〃
He reached the lower hall； which he knew was a favorite promenade
for the nurses who were gathered at the farther end； where a large
window l