Is it very dreadful ?" Jack put his arm around her, led her into the sitting-room and shut the door.

Then the two settled beside each other on the sofa.
"Pretty bad,--my darling--" Jack answered at last,--"very bad, really." "Has he been drinking ?" "Worse,--he has been dabbling in Wall Street and may lose every cent he has." Ruth leaned her head on her hand: "I was afraid it was something awful from the way Corinne spoke.

Oh, poor dear,--I'm so sorry! Does she know now ?" "She knows he's in trouble, but she doesn't know how bad it is.

I begged him to tell her, but he wouldn't promise.

He's afraid of hurting her--afraid to trust her, I think, with his sufferings.