Northrup came around in front of the chair, his back to the fire, and looked down upon the small figure. The blue blur of the evening gown, the exquisite whiteness of arms, neck, and face sank into his consciousness. Unconsciously he was fixing scenes in his memory, as one secures pictures in a scrap-book, for the future. "Been dining out, dear?" The dress suggested this, but Kathryn was alert. "Don't be a silly old cave thing, Brace. One cannot throw an old friend overboard in cold blood, now can one? Sandy is going away for a week, but I told him to-night that never, never again would I dine with him alone. Now will you be good?" Still Northrup did not smile. He was not concerned about Arnold, but he seemed such a nuisance at this moment. Kathryn, regarding Northrup's face, sat up and her eyes widened. "What's the matter, Brace?" she asked, and the hard, metallic ring was in her voice. Northrup misunderstood the change. He felt that he had startled her. He sat down upon the arm of the chair. "Poor little girl," he whispered. Kathryn also misunderstood, she nestled against him. "Big man," she murmured, "he _is_ going to be nice. Kiss me here--close behind my right ear--always and always that is going to be just your place." Northrup did not seem to hear. He bent closer until his face pressed the soft, scented hair, but he did not kiss the spot dedicated to him. Instead he said: "Darling, I am going away!" "Away--where?" Kathryn became rigid. "Overseas." "Overseas? What for, in heaven's name?" "Oh! anything they'll let me do. I'm going as soon as I can be sent--but----" "You mean, without any reason whatever, you're going to go over there?" "Hardly without something that stands for reason, Kathryn." "But no one, not even Doctor Manly, thinks that it is our fight, Brace. The men who have gone are simply adventurers; men who love excitement or men who want to cut responsibilities and don't dare confess it." Kathryn's face flamed hot. "Their lives must be pretty damnable," Northrup broke in, "if they take such a method to fling them aside. Do try to understand, dear; our women must, you know." There was pleading in the words. Then by one of those sudden reversions of her nimble wits, Kathryn recalled things she had heard recently--and immediately she took the centre of her well-lighted stage, and horrible as it might seem, saw herself, a ravishing picture in fascinating widow's weeds! While this vision was holding, Kathryn clung to Northrup and was experiencing actual distress--not ghoulish pleasure. "Oh! you must not leave me," she quivered. "You will help me, Kathryn; be a woman like my mother?" Again Northrup pleaded. This was unfortunate. It steadied Kathryn, but it hardened her. "You want me to marry you at once, Brace?" she whispered.