She dismissed his words about leaving Wall Street with scarcely a thought; he always talked in this way when the times were bad or his ventures unlucky.

They had been on the eve of ruin so many times, that the cry of "wolf" was not so alarming as formerly.
"I suppose I must decide before this week is over," she thought.
"Arnault has practically given me this length of time, and I shall take him at his word." Therefore, she was very sweet to him during the morning hours, and prepared him to submit to her drive with Graydon in the afternoon.
Arnault felt that he had given his ultimatum, and was resolved to abide by it.

At the same time he knew that it would be a terrible wrench to give up the girl.

The very difficulty of winning her had stimulated to the utmost his passion for attainment.

She was the best that existed in his superficial world, and fulfilled his ideal.