She rose from her seat and started to leave the room; but, on an impulse, she stopped. “I suppose a woman’s way of looking at these things is different from a man’s, Douglas. A woman can’t understand how hard it is for a man--how many temptations he has. Oh, I don’t blame you, Douglas; your doing all that for me--taking all those risks, and losing everything--I do appreciate it. But if I could only make you see that it is all wrong, that I’d love you poor and disappointed, a thousand times more than successful and----” “And dishonest!” he interrupted. “That’s what you were going to say, isn’t it? Well, I guess it’s impossible for us to agree about these matters. Anyway, I’ve got the nomination, and that means my re-election. We’ve got to take things as they come in this world.” Helen walked slowly toward the door. “Then you’ve made up your mind?” he said, thinking she might weaken. “I have made up my mind not to return to Washington,” she replied, without meeting his look. Briggs turned away impatiently. “Very well, then. I’ll take rooms again at the club.” When Helen had closed the door behind her Douglas Briggs sank into his chair and covered his face with his hands. After his work and worry of the past few weeks it seemed hard to him that he should be obliged to go through such a scene with his wife. For a few minutes he tortured himself with self-pity. He heard a rap at the door; but he paid no attention. He was in the mood where he wished to speak to no one, to see no one. XV “Uncle Doug!” Briggs whirled impatiently in his chair. “Eh?” Fanny came forward. “Say, Uncle Doug.” “Well, what is it?” “What’s the matter?” Fanny asked. Briggs frowned. “Matter!” he repeated. “What do you mean?” “You know. What’s the matter between auntie and you?” Fanny added, brightly. “I don’t mind your being cross with me a bit.” Briggs softened. “My dear little girl, you mustn’t interfere with things that don’t concern you.” Fanny’s eyes flashed. “Please _don’t_! Besides, they do concern me. Don’t you suppose I care when I see auntie come out of here with her face just as white and her eyes looking as if they were going to pop out of her head?” “You see too much, Fanny.” “Well, what do you suppose my eyes were made for, anyway?” Fanny cried, indignantly. “Besides, I didn’t have anything else to do. Guy’d gone away and left me.” “What did he do that for?” “Because I told him to.” “Have you two been quarreling?” Briggs asked, severely. “No, we haven’t,” Fanny replied, with an emphatic toss of her head. “I told him he’d better go and attend to your business, instead of billing and cooing with me. There were a lot of people who wanted to see you. So, as you were busy,” she concluded with importance, “of course Guy had to represent you.” Briggs rose hastily. “Where are they?” he asked. As Fanny did not like the tone of the question, she kept her uncle waiting for a moment. “In the library,” she finally conceded.