Halsey cast a quick glance at him, but still hesitated. "I don't see how I can well leave Grace right now," said he. "It's near her time." "You both take your chances about that," growled Rawn. "Business enterprises have to be born, as well as children. The important things come first. The one important thing for you and me is to get down there and see those cold-footed Easterners and tell them where they get off in this business." "Say three days--maybe I can get back in time, Mr. Rawn. But I must say that they're asking us both to show a good deal of loyalty to this company." "It's the only way to get success--fidelity to your employers, no matter what comes. Of course, I know how you feel, but business can't wait on women." "A woman doesn't always understand about business, Mr. Rawn. They're rather strange things, don't you think? Grace doesn't talk much to me--she never has. Sometimes--" Rawn raised a hand. "Charles, never let me hear a word of doubt or disloyalty regarding your wife! No daughter of Grace's parents could be anything but faithful and worthy. You should return such loyalty with love. Never let anything shake you out of your duty to your own wife--my girl Grace." "Why do you say that? We're married, and we're happy--and as you know--" "Very well. I like to hear you speak in that way. Always be gentle and kind to your wife. Of course, marriage may not seem always as it was in the honeymoon days, my son." "That's true," said Halsey suddenly. "Do you know, I've thought that." "What _right_ had you to think it?" "Mr. Rawn, Grace is my wife and I love her. But I'll confess the truth to you--she acts as though we'd been married forty years. She runs the house well, but she--I can't explain to you what I mean. She doesn't seem _contented_ any more. Of course, she loves me, and of course I love her, and we're married, and all that; and then--" "Charles, you surprise and grieve me. Grace is my daughter. She may have self-respect and dignity, but she will never lack in dutifulness. Did you ever stop to think, Charles, that you owe your place in life to her?" "I wasn't thinking of business, Mr. Rawn, and if you please, we'll not discuss that. I only spoke freely because of what we both know--in fact, I'd rather stay home than go to New York with you. If you took along your assistant--Miss Delaware, I suppose?" Rawn nodded. "Yes, she has the details of the sub-companies well in hand. I want her along, just as I want you, so that all questions can be answered as to details of the office and factory work, in case I should not personally be familiar with them--as I think I am, for the most part." "Then you couldn't use the stenographer on the train--I mean the regular one?" "I could not, Mr. Halsey," said John Rawn icily. "What business is it of _yours_?"