Mary saw; and swiftly judging her many-angled situation she saw that, however pressing other matters might be, this matter of the other girl was the first business that must be somehow adjusted if she were to realize her vaulting dreams--if she were to pass through the Golden Doors. And as she perceived this, she had an instant’s realization, that this business of gaining the worldly heights, which had at the inception of her plan seemed so simple and easily achievable, was every day becoming more complicated, more tortuous. Again Clifford’s grim words flashed briefly back: “I’ll leave it to Life to test you.”... “So, you see, I might just as well come across with the truth about our marriage!” Jack exclaimed. “It’s the best way out of the fix!” Mary hardly heard him; she was rapidly considering this new problem. “You’ve never told me how it came about, this arrangement with Miss Jones.” “Oh, just the way such matters usually happen. Maisie and I have known each other for a long time; there’s been a sort of unspoken understanding in our families that some day we’d get married--and I guess I fell right in with it. You see, I rather liked Maisie, and I’d never thought much about such affairs, and it didn’t make much difference. But--well, you know, I haven’t been behaving very well; and her people said there’d be nothing doing unless I straightened out. Since you’ve set me to work and kept me working, they’ve recalled their veto--and it’s all right with them. That’s about the size of the situation.” “What’s her attitude toward you?” “Maisie’s? I guess Maisie rather likes me. In fact,” he confessed, “though I don’t deserve it, Maisie really likes me a lot.” “What’s she like?” Mary asked quickly. “You mean looks, or--or personally?” “Personally.” “Maisie’s an awfully fine girl,” he answered soberly. “Does she have any special interest?--something through which an appeal might be made to her?” “I don’t quite understand?” Mary saw that for her purpose, it might not help any if he did understand. “Where is she staying?” “At the Grantham.” “Who’s with her?” “An aunt; her father’s sister, who thinks she manages Maisie. But Maisie does just as she pleases.--But what are you driving at with all these questions about Maisie?” “I don’t know myself yet. You can avoid committing yourself for a few days?” “I suppose I can stall for that much longer.” “Then listen, Jack,--here’s just what we’ve got to do,” she said rapidly, dominantly. “No matter what you think, or feel, we’ve got to keep our affair quiet for the present, and go ahead just as we originally planned, except that you’re to stay with your father. I’ll not consent to any other arrangement, so it’s no use arguing. You go every day to your office just as you’ve been doing; I’ll call you up there when I want you. And don’t be surprised at anything you see.” “But what are you going to do, Mary?” he insisted.