They always construed love in terms of passion. But passion was ephemeral. Love lived on. Passion took, but love gave.
“Have you told Marion about the new arrangement?”
“I didn't know whether you cared to have it told.”
“Don't you think she ought to know? If she intends to enter the family, she has a right to know that she is not marrying into great wealth. I don't suggest,” he added, as Graham colored hotly, “that it will make any difference. I merely feel she ought to know your circumstances.”
He was called to the telephone, and when he came back he found them in earnest conversation. The girl turned toward him smiling.
“Graham has just told me. You are splendid, Mr. Spencer.”
And afterward Clayton was forced to admit an element of sincerity in her voice. She had had a disappointment, but she was very game. Her admiration surprised him. He was nearer to liking her than he had ever been.
Even her succeeding words did not quite kill his admiration for her.
“And I have told Graham that he must not let you make all the sacrifices. Of course he is going to enlist.”
She had turned her defeat into a triumph against Natalie. Clayton knew then that she would never marry Graham. As she went out he followed her with a faint smile of tribute.
The smile died as he turned to go up the stairs.
Natalie was in her dressing-room. She had not undressed, but was standing by a window. She made no sign that she heard him enter, and he hesitated. Why try to talk things out with her? Why hurt her? Why not let things drift along? There was no hope of bettering them. One of two things he must do, either tear open the situation between them, or ignore it.
“Can I get anything for your head, my dear?”
“Then I think I'll go to bed. I didn't sleep much last night.”
“I came up-stairs because I saw how things were going.”
“Do you really want to go into that, to-night?”
“Why not to-night? We'll have to go into it soon enough.”
Yet when she turned to him he saw the real distress in her face, and his anger died.
“I didn't want to hurt you, Natalie. I honestly tried. But you know how I feel about that girl.”
“Even the servants know it. It is quite evident.”
“I dare say! You were relieved that she was going. If you would only be ordinarily civil to her--oh, don't you see? She could keep Graham from going into this idiotic war. You can't. I can't. I've tried everything I know. And she knows she can. She's--hateful about it.”