Rose-Ann’s father threw away his gnawed unlighted cigar and took another. They lighted up, and smoked for a moment in silence. “So you came to see me...,” said Rose-Ann’s father. “I was thinking about coming up to Chicago to see you....” “I suppose,” said Felix, “that you know what the situation is?” “Mm—yes.... Rose-Ann never tells me anything. I have to be a mind-reader. But usually I can figure out what’s going on. When she was here this time it wasn’t hard to guess what the trouble was.” “I suppose not,” said Felix. “It must seem simple enough to any one on the outside....” “And then,” said Mr. Prentiss with a guilty look, “I’ve a habit of getting into correspondence with some of Rose-Ann’s friends. They drop a bit of news now and then.... I used to have quite a correspondence with Will Blake at the Community House. That is why I wasn’t so surprised when I heard you two were married.... And lately I’ve been writing to Clive Bangs—very interesting young man: He tells me about a novel he’s writing; and sometimes he puts in a word or two about Rose-Ann; not very much, but then I know Rose-Ann; so I can figure things out.... I had a letter from him today....” “What does he say?” asked Felix. “Nothing in particular; just that he hears that Rose-Ann is quite happy about her work in California.” “You didn’t know she’d gone?” “No—she never tells me anything. Not until a long time after it’s happened.” “Well, were you surprised?” Rose-Ann’s father puffed on his cigar. “No—I can’t say that I was surprised exactly. I’ve known her a long time.” “And I’ve only known her a little more than two years,” said Felix. “She always was a difficult child to manage,” said Mr. Prentiss. “Not that I was ever any good at managing her. I just let her have her own way.” “I seem to be pursuing the same tactics,” said Felix grimly. Rose-Ann’s father rose and walked across the room and back, his thumbs locked behind his back, the cigar still in his mouth. He paused before Felix. “Well,” he demanded defensively, “what else can we do?” “That’s what I’d like to know,” said Felix. He laid down his cigar, looked at it with disapproval and lighted one of his own cigarettes. “Is it—is it all over between you?” asked Rose-Ann’s father softly and rather timidly, looking down at Felix. “It looks very much that way,” said Felix gloomily. “I was afraid so,” said Rose-Ann’s father sadly, “I was afraid so.” He walked away, puffing out fierce clouds of smoke. “It’s my fault,” said Felix. “Mm—yes—yes,” said Rose-Ann’s father from the other side of the room where he had halted with his back to Felix. “Yes, I shouldn’t wonder.” “I was unfaithful to her,” said Felix doggedly. “Yes, yes,” said Rose-Ann’s father hastily from his corner. “That can happen, too. Women are—they drive you to it.” Felix looked at him in surprise.