"Why, Madge, if I fail, this speculator will drop Graydon at once. Scott! this fact alone would be large compensation." "If you were cool--if you were yourself--you could save Graydon in every way. I want to see him go on in life, prosperous and happy, not thwarted and disheartened almost at its beginning. Oh, why won't you? Why _won't_ you?" and she wrung her hands in distress. "Is Graydon so very much to you, Madge?" he asked, in a wondering tone. "Hush!" she said, imperiously; "there are things which no man or woman shall know or appear to know unless I reveal them. It's enough that I am trying to save you all, and my own peace of mind. Henry Muir, I will not be denied. There are moments when a woman feels and _knows_ what is right, while a man, with his narrow, cast-iron rules, would ruin everything. You _must_ carry out my wish, and Graydon must know _nothing_ about it. Oh, God! that I were a man!" "Thank God, you are a woman! Child as you are, compared with my years and experience, you shall have your own way. I will this once put my lifelong principle under my feet, and if the future house of Muir & Brother is saved, you shall save it." "Oh, thank you, thank you, Henry! Now see how happy I am. I have but one stipulation--the 'brother' must not know it. We shall go on the first train, shall we not?" "Yes. You can say you want to do some shopping. Come, we have been away from Mary too long already. Oh, Madge, Madge, would that there were more girls like you!" CHAPTER XXXI CHECKMATE "Well," exclaimed Mrs. Muir, when they appeared at last; "I thought you and Madge had eloped!" "We are going to to-morrow by first train," said the young girl. "Henry says he must return to town for the day, and I shall accompany him to do some shopping." "Now, Henry, this is too bad, and I've scarcely seen you this evening." "I'm truly sorry, Mary; I did look forward to a good quiet day with you, but there is an important matter which I neglected to see to to-day, and which must be attended to. Graydon will soon be ready to relieve me a great deal." "Well, I shall be glad when he can do something besides waiting on Mr. Arnault's convenience for the privilege of seeing Miss Wildmere. It will be a terribly long, fatiguing day for you, Madge--for you both, indeed!" "Oh, I shan't mind it in the least! It won't be half so fatiguing as one of my long rides. You spoke of wanting some things, and I can shop for you, too." Mrs. Muir had long since given up the idea of objecting seriously to anything for which business was the alleged reason. The chance to do some shopping by proxy soon occupied her mind, and when Miss Wildmere took occasion to pass and repass, the only apparent topic of interest in the Muir group was the prospect of purchasing some expensive goods.