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but he was willing to believe it pained and discomposed her if he
showed it before company。 He would not have her change even this
peculiarityit was part of herselfno more than he would have
changed himself。 And behind what he had conceived was her clear；
practical common sense； all this time had been her belief that she
had deceived her father！ Poor dear； dear Kitty！ And she had
suffered because stupid people had conceived that her father had
led him away in selfish speculations。 As if heBarkerwould not
have first discovered it； and as if anybodyeven dear Kitty
herselfwas responsible for HIS convictions and actions but
himself。 Nevertheless； this gentle egotist was unusually serious；
and when the child awoke at last； and with a fretful start and
vacant eyes pushed his caressing hand away； he felt lonelier than
before。 It was with a slight sense of humiliation； too； that he
saw it stretch its hands to the mere hireling； Norah； who had never
given it the love that he had seen even in the frivolous Mrs。
Horncastle's eyes。 Later； when his wife came in； looking very
pretty in her elaborate dinner toilette； he had the same
conflicting emotions。 He knew that they had already passed that
phase of their married life when she no longer dressed to please
him； and that the dictates of fashion or the rivalry of another
woman she held superior to his tastes； yet he did not blame her。
But he was a little surprised to see that her dress was copied from
one of Mrs。 Horncastle's most striking ones； and that it did not
suit her。 That which adorned the maturer woman did not agree with
the demure and slightly austere prettiness of the young wife。
But Barker forgot all this when Stacyreserved and somewhat
severe…looking in evening dressarrived with business punctuality。
He fancied that his old partner received the announcement that they
would dine in the public room with something of surprise； and he
saw him glance keenly at Kitty in her fine array； as if he had
suspected it was her choice； and understood her motives。 Indeed；
the young husband had found himself somewhat nervous in regard to
Stacy's estimate of Kitty； he was conscious that she was not
looking and acting like the old Kitty that Stacy had known； it did
not enter his honest heart that Stacy had； perhaps； not appreciated
her then； and that her present quality might accord more with his
worldly tastes and experience。 It was； therefore； with a kind of
timid delight that he saw Stacy apparently enter into her mood； and
with a still more timorous amusement to notice that he seemed to
sympathize not only with her； but with her half…rallying； half…
serious attitude towards his （Barker's） inexperience and
simplicity。 He was glad that she had made a friend of Stacy； even
in this way。 Stacy would understand； as he did； her pretty
willfulness at last； she would understand what a true friend Stacy
was to him。 It was with unfeigned satisfaction that he followed
them in to dinner as she leaned upon his guest's arm； chatting
confidentially。 He was only uneasy because her manner had a slight
ostentation。
The entrance of the little party produced a quick sensation
throughout the dining…room。 Whispers passed from table to table；
all heads were turned towards the great financier as towards a
magnet； a few guests even shamelessly faced round in their chairs
as he passed。 Mrs。 Barker was pink； pretty； and voluble with
excitement； Stacy had a slight mask of reserve； Barker was the only
one natural and unconscious。
As the dinner progressed Barker found that there was little chance
for him to invoke his old partner's memories of the past。 He
found； however； that Stacy had received a letter from Demorest； and
that he was coming home from Europe。 His letters were still sad；
they both agreed upon that。 And then for the first time that day
Stacy looked intently at Barker with the look that he had often
worn on Heavy Tree Hill。
〃Then you think it is the same old trouble that worries him？〃 said
Barker in an awed and sympathetic voice。
〃I believe it is；〃 said Stacy； with an equal feeling。 Mrs。 Barker
pricked up her pretty ears； her husband's ready sympathy was
familiar enough； but that this cold； practical Stacy should be
moved at anything piqued her curiosity。
〃And you believe that he has never got over it？〃 continued Barker。
〃He had one chance； but he threw it away；〃 said Stacy energetically。
〃If； instead of going off to Europe by himself to brood over it； he
had joined me in business； he'd have been another man。〃
〃But not Demorest；〃 said Barker quickly。
〃What dreadful secret is this about Demorest？〃 said Mrs。 Barker
petulantly。 〃Is he ill？〃
Both men were silent by their old common instinct。 But it was
Stacy who said 〃No〃 in a way that put any further questioning at an
end； and Barker was grateful and for the moment disloyal to his
Kitty。
It was with delight that Mrs。 Barker had seen that the attention of
the next table was directed to them； and that even Mrs。 Horncastle
had glanced from time to time at Stacy。 But she was not prepared
for the evident equal effect that Mrs。 Horncastle had created upon
Stacy。 His cold face warmed； his critical eye softened； he asked
her name。 Mrs。 Barker was voluble； prejudiced； and； it seemed；
misinformed。
〃I know it all；〃 said Stacy； with didactic emphasis。 〃Her husband
was as bad as they make them。 When her life had become intolerable
WITH HIM； he tried to make it shameful WITHOUT HIM by abandoning
her。 She could get a divorce a dozen times over； but she won't。〃
〃I suppose that's what makes her so very attractive to gentlemen；〃
said Mrs。 Barker ironically。
〃I have never seen her before；〃 continued Stacy； with business
precision； 〃although I and two other men are guardians of her
property； and have saved it from the clutches of her husband。 They
told me she was handsomeand so she is。〃
Pleased with the sudden human weakness of Stacy； Barker glanced at
his wife for sympathy。 But she was looking studiously another way；
and the young husband's eyes； still full of his gratification； fell
upon Mrs。 Horncastle's。 She looked away with a bright color。
Whereupon the sanguine Barkerperfectly convinced that she
returned Stacy's admirationwas seized with one of his old boyish
dreams of the future； and saw Stacy happily united to her； and was
only recalled to the dinner before him by its end。 Then Stacy duly
promenaded the great saloon with Mrs。 Barker on his arm； visited
the baby in her apartments； and took an easy leave。 But he grasped
Barker's hand before parting in quite his old fashion； and said；
〃Come to lunch with me at the bank any day； and we'll talk of Phil
Demorest；〃 and left Barker as happy as if the appointment were to
confer the favor he had that morning refused。 But Mrs。 Barker； who
had overheard； was more dubious。
〃You don't suppose he asks you to talk with you about Demorest and
his stupid secret； do you？〃 she said scornfully。
〃Perhaps not only about that；〃 said Barker； glad that she had not
demanded the secret。
〃Well；〃 returned Mrs。 Barker as she turned away； 〃he might just as
well lunch here and talk about HERand see her； too。〃
Meantime Stacy had dropped into his club； only a few squares
distant。 His appearance created the same interest that it had
produced at the hotel； but with less reserve among his fellow
members。
〃Have you heard the news？〃 said a dozen voices。 Stacy had not； he
had been dining out。
〃That infernal swindle of a Divide Railroad has passed the
legislature。〃
Stacy instantly remembered Barker's absurd belief in it and his
reasons。 He smiled and said carelessly； 〃Are you quite sure it's a
swindle？〃
There was a dead silence at the coolness of the man who had been
most outspoken against it。
〃But；〃 said a voice hesitatingly； 〃you know it goes nowhere and to
no purpose。〃
〃But that does not prevent it； now that it's a fact； from going
anywhere and to some purpose；〃 said Stacy； turning away。 He passed
into the reading…room quietly； but in an instant turned and quickly
descended by another staircase into the hall； hurriedly put on his
overcoat； and slipping out was a moment later re…entering the
hotel。 Here he hastily summoned Barker； who came down； flushed and
excited。 Laying his hand on Barker's arm in his old dominant way；
he said：
〃Don't delay a single hour； but get a written agreement for that
Ditch property。〃
Barker smiled。 〃But I have。 Got it this afternoon。〃
〃Then you know？〃 ejaculated Stacy in surprise。
〃I only know；〃 said Barker； coloring； 〃that you said I could back
out of it if it wasn't signed； and that's what Kitty said； too。
And I thought it looked awfully mean for me to hold a man to that
kind of a bargain。 And soyou won't be mad； old fellow； will
you？I thought I'd