trouble--the lady's charm, not the human being's; not the charm
feminine for the male.

"I hope you'll be very patient with me," said she, with a wan
smile. "I am far from well. I've been debating for several days
whether or not to give up and send for the doctor."

He did not see her real motive in thus paving the way for the
formation of the habit of separate lives; he eagerly believed her,
was grateful to her, was glad she was ill. So quaint is the
interweaving of thought, there flashed into his mind at that
moment: "After all, I needn't have blown in so much money on
trousseau. Maybe I can get 'em to take back those two suits of
twenty-dollar pajamas. Grant went in too deep." This, because the
money question was bothering him greatly, the situation that would
arise when his savings should be gone; for now it seemed to him he
would never have the courage to discuss money with her. If she
could have looked in upon his thoughts she would have been well
content; there was every indication of easy sailing for her scheme
to reconstruct his career.

"When do you think of starting for the Adirondacks?" he asked,
with a timidity of preliminary swallowing and blushing that made
her turn away her face to hide her smile. How completely hers was
the situation! She felt the first triumphant thrill of her new
estate.

"To-night," she replied. "We can't put it off."

"No, we can't put it off," assented he, hesitation in his voice,