He watched her as she went into the old church, stopping at the door to wave a greeting to his father. Framed thus, she made a picture that he kept in his mind all the day and many days thereafter. Mr. Carter came up, a little out of breath and very red. “Going my way, father?” “I suppose I am!” Mr. Carter slowed his steps to suit his lame son’s gait. He was moody, and he had his morning paper done up like a club in his hand. He slashed viciously at the church snowball as they reached it. “My Lord, to think of that lovely girl--and what I’ve got for a daughter-in-law!” he growled. Daniel, who understood the process of his father’s mind without asking any questions, said nothing. “I’ve got a nickelette-show, a ballet-dancer, a runaway-with-a-gambler daughter-in-law, that’s what I’ve got!” They had reached the street now, and Daniel checked him. “Hush, father!” the young man said gently. “Some one will hear you.” “Hear me?” bawled Mr. Carter. “Hear me? Drat it! D’you suppose the whole town doesn’t know? I met Dr. Barbour when I came out of the house just now. He says the Bulls, those new people at the corner of Hill Street, brought her home last night at one o’clock--I mean this morning--in a motor. What d’you suppose they’ll say?” “Perhaps they’ve got some sense and won’t say anything,” suggested Daniel, thinking of the prayer-book and Virginia’s face. “They told Barbour, and he’ll tell every one--and it isn’t twelve hours old.” “We can’t do anything, father. Give the girl a chance. William says it was an accident.” “An accident? And your mother saw her flirting with Corwin in the morning!” Mr. Carter could not restrain his ire. “I tell you, Dan, I wouldn’t mind so much if William wasn’t behaving like a lummox. He won’t get a divorce. He told me so this morning.” “Good Heavens, why should he? It isn’t as bad as that. She’s only a wild girl, and she hates our ways. Why shouldn’t she? We’ve been finding fault with her from the beginning. I don’t see why you spoke of a divorce to William.” “Why?” Mr. Carter set his teeth. Then, as they got to the corner, he spoke his mind. “I want him to get a divorce, behave like a gentleman, and marry Virginia Denbigh--if she’ll have him.” “I’m sure Virginia wouldn’t have him, if he got a divorce to ask her,” said Daniel quietly. “She’s not that kind of a woman.” “She’s in love with him,” replied Mr. Carter; “but I don’t care for that, either, if I can make the fool shake off this--this wildcat!” Daniel, who had reached Judge Jessup’s door, smiled. “I’m really sorry for the wildcat,” he said quietly. “She’s alone, and she hasn’t a friend--unless you count Leigh.” “Leigh’s a ninny!” Mr. Carter retorted, and went on, still storming, to his office.