"Yes, it will set him back pretty badly--" Halsey nodded toward the bowed frame of Rawn, dimly visible, in the gallery's shade, through the tall glass doors. "Yes," she said slowly, "he's my husband, surely." --"Who has given you everything." She nodded, her arms still about his neck. "Let me think this out for all of us, Charley. Keep matters as they are until I have time to think--won't you do that much--just that little--for me?" His hands were still upon her wrists as he looked down upon her from his height, his eyes angry, his face frowning, disturbed. Worn almost to gauntness, tall, sinewy, of a certain distinction in look, as he stood there before her now an ignorant observer might have thought the two lovers, he her lover, not her stepson, she at the least his younger sister, surely not his mother by mixed marriage. V As they stood thus, Rawn turning, saw them through the tall glass door. His face grew eager. "He's _not_ gone," he whispered hoarsely to his daughter, who stood rigid, close at his arm. "She's got him! By Jove! She's a wonder--my wife, my wife--she'll land him yet--she will!" "Do you see that?" hissed Grace at last, pointing at the door. "Do I see it--didn't you hear me? Yes, of course I see it!" "And you'll allow _that_, between your wife and my husband?" "Allow it--wife!--why! damn you, girl, what are you _talking_ about--wives and husbands?--what's that to do with this? There's many a million dollars up now, I tell you, on those two standing there. You make a move now--say a word--and I'll wring your neck, do you hear?" He caught her by the wrist. She sank into a chair, sobbing bleakly. A moment later the two figures beyond the door stood a trifle apart. The arms of Virginia Rawn dropped from Halsey's neck. She laid a hand upon his arm and, side by side, neither looking out toward the gallery, they drew deeper into the room, behind the shelter of a heavy silken curtain which shut off the view. It was a beautiful night. The long ladder of the moon still lay across the gently rippling lake, which murmured at the foot of Graystone Hall's retaining sea-wall. The scent of flowers was about. It was a scene of peace and beauty and content. John Rawn and his daughter remained upon the gallery for a time. CHAPTER IV THE SECOND CURRENT I "Charles," said Virginia Rawn, "Charley--" And always her white hand touched his shoulder, his arm, his hand--"You really mustn't go. Believe me, you'll both be sorry to-morrow. You don't know what you're doing! You're only angry now. You'll both be sorry." Her eyes glowed, evaded. Halsey shook his head. "It's all over, so far as I'm concerned." His eyes, glowing, sought hers. "Why, Charley, boy, that's all foolishness. Don't you know how wrong it is to talk in that way? What hasn't Mr. Rawn done for you? And she's your wife!"