But now the boy was through with college, and already he noticed
something new in their relationship. Natalie had always spoiled
him, and now there were, with increasing frequency, small
consultations in her room when he was shut out, and he was beginning
to notice a restraint in his relations with the boy, as though
mother and son had united against him.

He was confident that Natalie was augmenting Graham's allowance
from her own. His salary, rather, for he had taken the boy into
the business, not as a partner - that would come later - but as the
manager of a department. He never spoke to Natalie of money. Her
house bills were paid at the office without question. But only
that day Miss Potter, his secretary, had reported that Mrs. Spencer's
bank had called up and he had made good a considerable overdraft.

He laid the cause of his discontent to Graham, finally. The boy
had good stuff in him. He was not going to allow Natalie to spoil
him, or to withdraw him into that little realm of detachment in
which she lived. Natalie did not need him, and had not, either as
a lover or a husband, for years. But the boy did.

There was a little stir in the room behind. The Haverfords were
leaving, and the Hayden girl, who was plainly finding the party
dull. Graham was looking down at her, a tall, handsome boy, with
Natalie's blonde hair but his father's height and almost insolent
good looks.

"Come around to-morrow," she was saying. "About four. There's
always a crowd about five, you know."