He talked more technically of his ill-luck after that, and told her what he believed to be the reason of the adverse change. She listened with great attention. She knew so much of Wall Street matters that she scarcely missed a point in all that he explained. "So Goldwin is on the other side," she said, when he had finished. "Yes, Goldwin is safe. But you can't tell what to-morrow will bring. No one is really safe. Prices are flying about. It's a shocking state of affairs." "There is nothing for you to do just now, is there?" Claire asked, after a little pause. "Oh, no; I may get a few telegrams later. But nothing serious will happen till to-morrow." She laid her hand on his arm. She was more alarmed and perplexed than she chose to show. "Then come with me to the reception," she said; "you might as well, Herbert. It is better than to brood over the state of matters down there." He shook his head negatively. "I should make a very bad guest," he replied. "Go yourself, Claire. But remember one thing." He was looking at her very fixedly; his frank blue eyes were full of a soft yet assertive pain. "Our life may alter suddenly for the worse. We may have to give up all this." He waved one hand here and there, as though generalizing the whole luxurious encompassment. "There is no telling what _may_ happen. I never felt the insecurity of my career as I feel it now. Do you know, Claire, that a few more such days as this may ruin me?" "Ruin you?" she repeated. She was pale as those words left her lips. Hollister had proposed to her a terrible possibility. "Yes, Claire, I mean it. Of course I am looking at the worst that might happen. But I want to prepare you." She rose, keeping her eyes on his. "I don't know what I should do," she said, "if I lost what I have now. I have grown used to it, Herbert. I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things." As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face. "Claire," he exclaimed, "you _must_ think of losing it all! You _must_ try to reconcile yourself with the idea! If you don't, the ordeal will be all the harder when it comes." "When it comes?" she again repeated. "Yes--you see just how I stand. You have grasped the whole wretched situation. Of course there's a chance that I may right myself, but" ... "I'll take that chance," she broke in, quite forcibly withdrawing her hands. "So will you, Herbert. I prefer to look at it this way. We will both take the chance." Hollister's face was full of reproach. "Claire!" he exclaimed. "I see that you love this new life with a positive passion!" "I love it very much," she answered. "I love it so much that I should suffer fearfully if I were turned adrift from it.... Come, we will both go to the Vanvelsors' reception." "No," replied Hollister. He walked away from her. By her lack of sympathy she had dealt him a cruel sting.