She picked up the few things that lay about and with a contemptuous toss of her head, retreated into the inner apartment, leaving father and son alone together.
"Hum," grunted Ryder, Sr.

"I rather thought I should find you here, but I didn't quite expect to find you on your knees--dragging our pride in the mud." "That's where our pride ought to be," retorted Jefferson savagely.
He felt in the humor to say anything, no matter what the consequences.
"So she has refused you again, eh ?" said Ryder, Sr.

with a grin.
"Yes," rejoined Jefferson with growing irritation, "she objects to my family.

I don't blame her." The financier smiled grimly as he answered: "Your family in general--me in particular, eh?
I gleaned that much when I came in." He looked towards the door of the room in which Shirley had taken refuge and as if talking to himself he added: "A curious girl with an inverted point of view--sees everything different to others--I want to see her before she goes." He walked over to the door and raised his hand as if he were about to knock.

Then he stopped as if he had changed his mind and turning towards his son he demanded: "Do you mean to say that she has done with you ?" "Yes," answered Jefferson bitterly.
"Finally ?" "Yes, finally--forever!" "Does she mean it ?" asked Ryder, Sr., sceptically.
"Yes--she will not listen to me while her father is still in peril." There was an expression of half amusement, half admiration on the financier's face as he again turned towards the door.
"It's like her, damn it, just like her!" he muttered.
He knocked boldly at the door.
"Who's there ?" cried Shirley from within.
"It is I--Mr.Ryder.