Page:The council of seven.djvu/194

 all people, is for one of his nature a bath of vitriol."

"But it isn't like him," said Helen, "to indulge a mere spite. He is too big a man. There must have been a deeper, a subtler motive."

"What do you think it can be?"

"He must have reckoned on an outside chance of your believing what he said."

John's look of sheer incredulity gave her a sudden insight into those hidden depths of character she had yet to penetrate. This new knowledge brought a glow of light to her eyes.

"I think," he said, "as soon as you have lunched, you had better go to the telephone and tell them you are not returning to the Office. Here and now you must close this man down. You can never go back to Universe Building."

She did not answer at once. Seconds only were recorded by heart and brain, but when she spoke a weight of years had been added to her voice. "I think you are right," she said.

He could guess the wrench to such a practical mind as hers to part with her career, to give up with almost quixotic decision the greatest prize in her profession. But faced now with the necessity she did not hesitate. "I have saved very little," she said quite simply. "And I don't quite see how I am going to get work—certainly not immediately, if at all. The U. P. may be able to close every door. He says they can. However