It had been a scene that had almost crumpled Jack. Mary saved the situation for him by speaking promptly but with composure. “It will be quite all right, Mr. Morton.” “To pay the check with,” Jack mumbled huskily, pushing a bank-note beside Clifford’s plate. The next moment Clifford and Mary were alone. She gazed across at him very steadily, not speaking. Her breath came with a slight, fluttering irregularity, and her face had taken on a slight pallor; he could guess how much the stress of the last few minutes had taxed her. She glanced about the tables for a brief space, then her eyes came back to him. “I’d like to go up to my apartment,” she said quietly. Clifford paid the bill and escorted her out of the great, glittering room. Near the row of elevators she halted and faced him. “What was in your mind a while ago when you started to tell Jack and me not to register here together?” He tried to speak coldly. “Please overlook that. I forgot for the moment that I had promised you I would not again interfere in your affairs.” “Please tell me what was in your mind,” she quietly insisted. “First of all, I was surprised that you and Jack should return to New York--so soon.” “Why?” “Something similar to what has just happened was bound to happen if you appeared in New York openly together--only it might have been a great deal worse. And that worse thing would inevitably have happened if you two had registered. I thought you would have considered this danger.” “I had thought of it, yes,--that is, before to-day. But to-day so much was happening to me--it was all so sudden--that all day I was thinking of other things.” He looked at her sharply, a sudden leaping at his heart. Was he in any way concerned in those other things? But he put the question from him. Abruptly he obeyed an impulse that had been growing in him. “May I break my promise to the extent of telling you of a few matters?” “Please do.” “You have chosen your own way,” he said, in even tones, looking very straight into her dark eyes, “but--well, after all, I want you to make the best of it for yourself. These few facts--perhaps you know them already--may help you. First, and I say this without any personal prejudice to Jack, Jack has the reputation of caring for many women often rather than for one woman long. Second, largely for business reasons, Mr. Morton desires to have Jack marry a girl from Chicago. Third, this girl’s parents will not consider such a marriage until Jack has proved that he has settled down; therefore, it naturally is Mr. Morton’s dominating desire at present that Jack should become a steady business man. He’d like to have Jack enter the New York offices of his firm. That is all. If you think these matters over, perhaps you will see a way in which they may serve you.” “Perhaps I shall. Thank you.” She moved to the elevators, and stood silent until a car opened. “Good-night,” she said, and stepped inside. “Good-night,” he returned.