And then his thoughts leaped on to the previous night, and his pulses quickened at the marvel of her beauty: her face--little Gracie's face, and yet so different; her lovely white neck and arms. He had seen them so often before in little Gracie. But this was different, all quite different. She was no longer a child, and he was no longer a boy. She was a woman, a beautiful woman, _the_ woman, and he was a man, and every good thing in him craved her as its very highest good. God! How could he let any other man take her from him? Even Jack---- He spat out his penholder, and kicked over his chair, as he got up and began to pace the room, with clenched hands and pinched face. CHAPTER XXVIII THE LINE OF CLEAVAGE "Dearest Grace, "We two are in trouble, and you are the unconscious cause of it. We have suddenly discovered that we have all grown up, and things can never be quite the same between us all as they have been. Jim is writing to you also, and you will get both our letters at the same time. We both love you, Gracie, with our whole hearts. If you can care enough for either of us it is for you to say which. For myself I cannot begin to tell you all you are to me. You are everything to me--everything. I cannot, dare not imagine life without you in it, Gracie. Can you care enough for me to make me the happiest man in all the world? "Ever yours devotedly, "John Denzil Carron." "Gracie Dear, "It is horrid to have to ask if you care for me more than you do for old Jack. But it has come to that, and we cannot help ourselves. I want you more than I ever wanted anything in all my life. You are more to me than life itself or anything it can ever give me. I know I am not half good enough for you, and I wish I had made more of myself now. But I do not think any one could ever care for you as I do. "God bless you, dear, whatever you decide. "Please excuse the writing, etc., and believe me, "Yours ever, "Jim," When Mrs. Jex brought in these two letters, as they lingered lazily over the tea-table, Grace laughed merrily. "What are those boys up to now? It must be some unusually good joke to set old Jim writing letters." But her brother's face lacked its usual quick response. He had been very thoughtful all day, sombre almost; and when Grace had chaffed him lightly as to his exertions of the previous night, instead of tackling her in kind, he had said quietly: "Yes, you see, we old people don't take things so lightly as you youngsters." "You are thinking of this war?" "Yes--partly." "And----?" "Oh--lots of things." "Margaret?"--with a twinkle. "Oh, Margaret of course. I thought I had never seen her look more charming." "She is always charming. Charlie, I wish----" and she hung fire lest in the mere touching she might damage. "And what do you wish, child?" "I wish you'd marry her. She's the sweetest thing that ever was." "You have a most excellent taste, my child."