She slipped between him and the door. “Ben, you haven't heard anything against poor Marcia, have you?” “No!” “You don't think she's to blame in any way for his going wrong, do you? “How could I?” “Then I don't understand why you won't do anything to help her.” He looked at her again, and opened his lips to speak once, but closed them before he said, “I've got my own affairs to worry me. Isn't that reason enough for not interfering in theirs?” “Not for you, Ben.” “Then I don't choose to mix myself up in other people's misery. I don't like it, as you once said.” “But you can't help it sometimes, as _you_ said.” “I can this time, Olive. Don't you see,--” he began. “I see there's something you won't tell me. But I shall find it out.” She threatened him half playfully. “I wish you could,” he answered. “Then perhaps you'd let me know.” She opened the door for him now, and as he passed out he said gently, “I _am_ tired, but I sha'n't begin to rest till I have had this talk with Atherton. I had better go.” “Yes,” Olive assented, “you'd better.” She added in banter, “You're altogether too mysterious to be of much comfort at home.” The family heard him close the outside door behind him after Olive came back to them, and she explained, “He's gone out to talk it over with Mr. Atherton.” His father gave a laugh of relief. “Well, if he leaves it to Atherton, I guess we needn't worry about it.” “The child isn't at all well,” said his mother. XXXIII. Halleck met Atherton at the door of his room with his hat and coat on. “Why, Halleck! I was just going to see if you had come home!” “You needn't now,” said Halleck, pushing by him into the room. “I want to see you, Atherton, on business.” Atherton took off his hat, and closed the door with one hand, while he slipped the other arm out of his overcoat sleeve. “Well, to tell the truth, I was going to mingle a little business myself with the pleasure of seeing you.” He turned up the gas in his drop-light, and took the chair from which he had looked across the table at Halleck, when they talked there before. “It's the old subject,” he said, with a sense of repetition in the situation. “I learn from Witherby that Hubbard has taken that money of yours out of the Events, and from what I hear elsewhere he is making ducks and drakes of it on election bets. What shall you do about it?” “Nothing,” said Halleck. “Oh! Very well,” returned Atherton, with the effect of being a little snubbed, but resolved to take his snub professionally. He broke out, however, in friendly exasperation: “Why in the world did you lend the fellow that money?” Halleck lifted his brooding eyes, and fixed them half pleadingly, half defiantly upon his friend's face. “I did it for his wife's sake.”