"Well, there will be the proofs to revise. And, to tell you the truth, Toni, I'm dying to get to work on another story." "Are you? But what about the _Bridge_?" "Oh, I won't neglect that, of course. But everything is running smoothly there and Barry is turning out trumps, too. He has grasped the whole thing as I never expected him to do. He's going to get a bigger salary almost at once, and then I suppose he will marry Miss Lynn." He gave a sudden exclamation as the car swerved aside to avoid a lumbering cart which took up more than its share of the road. "What's Fletcher doing, confound him? I say, Toni, this wretched arm of mine doesn't seem to me to be getting on very well. The bone's knit all right, but I have a fearful lot of pain in it sometimes." "Oh, have you, Owen?" Toni grew pale in an instant. "What does Dr. Mayne say? You saw him a few days ago, didn't you?" "Yes, but I don't think he knows very much about it. He's a nice old chap, but a bit behind the times. I have a good mind to go and see some man in town one day next week. It's such a confounded handicap for a writer not to be able to hold a pen." "What about your proofs?" Her heart sank as she asked the question. "Oh, Miss Loder can do those--under my supervision," he said carelessly. "I'm not bothering about them so much as about my new book; and I've been commissioned to write a series of articles for the _Lamp_, which really ought to be put in hand at once." For a moment there was silence. Then: "Could I do your proofs?" Toni said, in a voice which shook in spite of all her efforts. "Oh, it's awfully sweet of you, dear." Owen tried his hardest to avoid hurting her. "But there is no occasion to worry you. I don't like to see you bending over a desk when there is no need. Miss Loder has to do something, anyway, and she might just as well do my work as anyone's." "Must she come down to Greenriver?" Now Toni's voice betrayed her, and Owen looked up sharply. "Why not? Do you mean you would rather she did not come?" "Much rather." For once Toni's inward feelings burst their bounds, driving her to open revolt. "I don't like Miss Loder about all day--I never feel free--there's an oppression in the air so long as she is in the house." Owen was surprised and annoyed by this speech; and showed his annoyance plainly. "Don't you think you are rather prejudiced, Toni? You have never liked the girl, and I can't imagine why. She does her work well, and doesn't interfere with you in the least." "Interfere with me--no, perhaps not," said Toni, her breast heaving stormily, her cheeks very red. "She laughs at me, though, which is worse--sneers--oh, I know she thinks I'm a little fool, and so I am; but I am at least your wife--the mistress of Greenriver, and she might remember that and treat me with a little more respect."