"And we'll have to live in a cheap little hole somewhere--we can't have one of the Reddingtons." "I don't want it--now." "And you'll have to--to work." "Yes, I know." Her chin was still bravely lifted. "There can't be any--maid now." "Then you'll have to eat--what I cook!" She drew in her breath with a hysterical little laugh that was half a sob. "You darling! I shall love it!" He caught her to himself in a revulsion of feeling that was as ardent as it was sudden. "Only I'll so hate to have you do it, sweetheart--it's so messy and doughy!" "Nonsense!" "You told me it was." "But I didn't know then--what they were saying about me. Burke, they just shan't say I'm dragging you down." "Indeed they shan't, darling." "Then you will make good?" she regarded him with tearful, luminous eyes. "Of course I will--with _you_ to help me." Her face flamed into radiant joy. "Yes, _with me to help_! That's it, that's it--I'm going to _help_ you," she breathed fervently, flinging her arms about his neck. And to each, from the dear stronghold of the other's arms, at the moment, the world looked, indeed, to be a puny thing, scarcely worth the conquering. CHAPTER IV NEST-BUILDING It is so much easier to say than to do. But nothing in the experience of either Burke Denby or of Helen, his wife, had demonstrated this fact for them. Quite unprepared, therefore, and with confident courage, they proceeded to pass from the saying to the doing. True, in the uncompromising sunlight of the next morning, the world did look a bit larger, a shade less easily conquerable; and a distinctly unpleasant feeling of helplessness assailed both husband and wife. Yet with a gay "Now we'll go house-hunting right away so as to save paying here!" from Helen, and an adoring "You darling--but it's a burning shame!" from Burke, the two sallied forth, after the late hotel breakfast. The matter of selecting the new home was not a difficult one--at first. They decided at once that, if they could not have an apartment in the Reddington Chambers, they would prefer a house. "For," Burke said, "as for being packed away like sardines in one of those abominable little cheap flat-houses, I won't!" So a house they looked for at the start. And very soon they found what Helen said was a "love of a place"--a pretty little cottage with a tiny lawn and a flower-bed. "And it's so lucky it's for rent," she exulted. "For it's just what we want, isn't it, dearie?" "Y-yes; but--" "Why, Burke, don't you like it? _I_ think it's a dear! Of course it isn't like your father's house. But we can't expect that." "Expect that! Great Scott, Helen,--we can't expect this!" cried the man. "Why, Burke, what do you mean?" "It'll cost too much, dear,--in this neighborhood. We can't afford it." "Oh, that'll be all right. I'll economize somewhere else. Come; it says the key is next door."