“Suppose the boy loses his head and has to marry her! I’ll see him dead before I’ll see him make hamburg of his life as marriage made hamburg of mine!” “You’ll only make it worse by opposing him! Do have a little sense!” The wife was too calloused to appreciate the insult to herself. “I know! That’s the hard part. What can I do? I feel so helpless and weak and incompetent.” “Why go to all this fuss? Why do anything at all about it? You’re an awful lot of trouble to yourself at times, John Forge! Let the whole thing work itself out If you don’t attach any importance to it, neither will Nathan.” “But he’s such a sickly, sentimental young fool! I can’t trust him! I can’t trust him, I say!” Nevertheless, intent on seeing what manner of Circe was ruining his son’s life, Johnathan shed hat and coat and headed grimly for the parlor. Hands in pockets, face glowering, Johnathan stood between the portières, waiting for the music to cease. Nathan was advised of his father’s appearance by a warning dig from Edith’s elbow. Miss Gardner sensed something amiss, stopped playing, turned around. “This is my father,” said Nathan thickly. “Pa, this is Miss Gardner.” Carol arose and moved over effusively, one hand on a hip, the other outstretched to Johnathan. “Oh, Mr. Forge,” she gushed, “I’ve heard so much about you and so wanted to meet you——” Johnathan did not remove his hands from his pockets. He addressed himself to his daughter. “Edith, your mother wants you! Nathan, you and I have business to discuss. Miss Gardner will excuse us.” Edith’s face flamed scarlet. “But, dad, I’ve asked Miss Gardner to stay to supper——” “I’m sorry! We’ve got other company to supper. Miss Gardner will excuse us from supper too.” At the coarse insult, the righteously angered Gardner girl threw her chin in the air. “I’m sorry I’m intruding,” she said. “I’ll be going.” “Carol! I——” Nathan’s face was piteous with the humiliation of it. “Nathaniel!” The father’s voice was ominous. “As soon as Miss Gardner’s gone, come to the kitchen. I’ve pressing business to discuss with you!” The Gardner girl departed in high pique. The boy’s face wore an unhealthy look as he came into the kitchen. Edith was already sobbing on her mother’s sharp shoulder. Johnathan closed the door and spoke first. IV “You dared,” he cried hoarsely, “to bring her right here into this house! You dared!” “Well,” demanded the son desperately, “what do you want me to do? Sneak up some back alley with her?” The apparent impudence of the question was so flagrant that Johnathan’s temper exploded with a bang. Like lightning he ripped a hand from his pocket and struck Nathan in the head, an unexpected blow so fierce and hard it knocked the boy sprawling over a clothes basket. “Pa!—I——”