"Aunt Clara! What is it? What has happened? David has been talking about--about my never going back--" Aunt Clara made a good guess as to what had been said. And she had been doing some more thinking of her own. "Between us we've nearly lost you a husband. That's what _has_ happened. And you're going to pack up and pack off to win him back, for his sake if not your own. That's what is going to happen." "Win him back!" Shirley's world was fast sinking from under her feet. "Is--is that what Mrs. Jim has been hinting in her letters? Do you mean--you think David has stopped--_loving_ me?" "You think it incredible?" "But he's my _husband_." "What's that got to do with it? Oh," cried Aunt Clara, "can't you get it into your silly, selfish little head that you can't keep a love without earning it? You've been a fool. And I've been another. I never was so foolish in my life. I wonder your late Uncle John doesn't turn over in his grave. Come, Davy, it's most nine o'clock. To bed with you and leave your mother to think for once in her life." CHAPTER XI THE WITCH LAUGHS David was at his desk early the next day, working closely in the effort to shut out his own problems; it was not a very successful effort. All morning he avoided Esther strictly; that was much easier. She was avoiding him, too, but he did not guess that. During the noon hour he had a caller; Dick Holden, if you please, a Dick who was plainly perturbed. "Davy," quoth he, "have I done you some favors?" "You have," said David. "One good turn deserves another. It has to do with St. Mark's. Something queer's stirring there. My wires won't work. You're pretty thick with Jim Blaisdell. Get him to put in a word, a good strong word, for me, will you?" "I'm afraid I can't, Dick," said David, "very consistently." "Why not?" "The fact is, I think Jim is putting in his best words for me." "What do you mean by that?" "I have plans in there myself." "The devil!" Dick stared. "I thought you were out of the game." "I'm back in to this extent." "Why didn't you tell me?" "I didn't suppose you would be interested." "Are your plans any good?" "I think so," said David. "Then I bet you're the one that's blocking me there." Dick shook his head reproachfully. "Davy, I'm disappointed in you. I call it playing it low down on me. You might at least have told me, so I could know what to meet. It isn't fair. It isn't friendly. And after all I've done for you! I didn't think you could do it." Dick sighed sorrowfully, his faith in human nature evidently shattered. "I'm sorry, Dick," said David. "I supposed you put all your faith in your wires." Dick thought a few minutes.