"O, please, _please_ don't think of me, Martha," she cried vehemently. "I have entirely other plans. You mustn't give me, or my affairs, a thought, in settling your own. You must do what's best for _you_. You mustn't count for, or _on_, me in the least. I have not told you before, but I've made up my mind I must resign my position at Mrs. Sherman's, anyway. I'll write her at once. I'll tell her myself, of course, but I tell you now to show that you mustn't have me in mind, at all, in making your plans." Martha's low-pitched voice fell upon Claire's tense, nervous one with soothing calmness. "Certaintly not, Miss Claire," she said. "And you'll write to your husband and report to him what I propose," suggested Mr. Ronald, as if over Claire's head. "Shoor I will, sir!" "And if he likes the idea, my secretary will discuss the details with him later. Wages, duties--all the details." "Yes, sir." "And you may tell the children I'll leave orders that the car be sent for them some other day. I find it's not convenient, after all, for me to take them myself this afternoon. I spoke too fast in proposing it. But they'll not be disappointed. Mr. Blennerhasset will see to that. I leave town to-night to be gone--well, indefinitely. In any case, until well on into the autumn or winter. Any letter you may direct to me, care of Mr. Blennerhasset at the office, will be attended to at once. Good-by, Martha!--Miss Lang--" He was gone. When the car had shot out of sound and sight, Martha withdrew from the window, from behind the blinds of which she had been peering eagerly. "He certainly _is_ a little woolly wonder, meaning no offense," she observed with a deep-drawn sigh. "Yes, Mr. Ronald is as good as they make 'em, an' dontcher forget it!" She seated herself opposite Claire, drawing her chair quite close. "Pity you an' him is so on the outs. I'm not speakin' o' _him_, s'much, but anybody with half an eye can see _you_ got a reg'lar hate on'm. _Any one_ can see that!" A moment of silence, and then Claire flung herself, sobbing and quivering, across Martha's lap, ready to receive her. "O, _Martha_!" she choked. CHAPTER XVII