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 "Oh, my dear, can you read between the lines? He doesn't admit that anything has happened between them—man creature that he is—but he is starving for a word of her."

"Well, why don't you tell her?"

"Honey, she'd never speak to me again. No—I shall just write an occasional sign-board for Jimmy. Claire doesn't deserve one."

"Don't be so hard on Claire, dear. Remember, she didn't have your advantages—a sane home life—a fine wholesome mother who believed in marriage for love—"

"To say nothing of a man worth waiting and working for—" interrupted Mrs. Larry.

"Outside the question, madam. Claire has been raised in the atmosphere of personal luxury and in the belief that there is nothing worse than having to do for herself and for others. If she wasn't vastly different from her pleasure-loving mother, Jimmy Graves never would have had a chance with her. It would have been a millionaire or nothing for her."

"And as she has turned her back on millionaires, I propose to do my part in steering her toward happiness with the common or garden