And when the ranch was running like a clock we could take a month or two in Europe every year or so--" "Rather! And I could show you off--Bother! I'll not answer." The telephone bell on the little table in the corner (his own private wire) rang so insistently that Ruyler finally was magnetized reluctantly across the room.

He put the receiver to his ear and asked, "Well ?" in his most inhospitable tones.
The answer came in Spaulding's voice, and in a moment he sat down.
At the end of ten minutes he hung the receiver on the hook and returned to find Helene standing by the window, all the light gone from her eyes, staring out at the hard brilliant scene with an expression of hopelessness that had relaxed the very muscles of her face.
Ruyler was shocked, and more apprehensive than he had yet been.

"Helene!" he exclaimed.

"What is the matter?
Surely you may confide in me if you are in trouble." "Oh, but I am not," she replied coldly.

"Did I look odd?
I was just wondering how many really happy people there were behind those lights--over on Belvedere, at Sausalito--the lights look so golden and steady and sure--and glimpses of interiors at night are always so fascinating--but I suppose most of the people are commonplace and just dully discontented--" "Well, I am afraid I have something to tell you that hardly will restore your delightful gayety of a few moments ago.