n　called　Carrots　and　Ginger　in　his　time；　and　Ruth's　hair　was　almost　pure　auburn。　With　it　went　dark　eyes　and　very　black　lashes　…　the　effect　somewhat　enhanced　by　art。　She　was　tall　and　slender；　and　moved　well。　At　a　careless　glance　it　was　the　face　of　a　Raphael　Madonna。　Only　if　one　looked　closely　did　one　perceive　the　same　line　of　jaw　and　chin　as　in　Van　Aldin's　face；　bespeaking　the　same　hardness　and　determination。　It　suited　the　man；　but　suited　the　woman　less　well。　From　her　childhood　upward　Ruth　Van　Aldin　had　been　accustomed　to　having　her　own　way；　and　anyone　who　had　ever　stood　up　against　her　soon　realized　that　Rufus　Van　Aldin's　daughter　never　gave　in。

〃Knighton　told　me　you'd　phoned　him；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃I　only　got　back　from　Paris　half　an　hour　ago。　What's　all　this　about　Derek？〃

Ruth　Kettering　flushed　angrily。

〃It's　unspeakable。　It's　beyond　all　limits；〃　she　cried。　〃He　…　he　doesn't　seem　to　listen　to　anything　I　say。〃

There　was　bewilderment　as　well　as　anger　in　her　voice。

〃He'll　listen　to　me；〃　said　the　millionaire　grimly。

Ruth　went　on。

〃I've　hardly　seen　him　for　the　last　month。　He　goes　about　everywhere　with　that　woman。〃

〃With　what　woman？〃

〃Mirelle。　She　dances　at　the　Parthenon；　you　know。〃

Van　Aldin　nodded。

〃I　was　down　at　Leconbury　last　week。　I　…　I　spoke　to　Lord　Leconbury。　He　was　awfully　sweet　to　me；　sympathized　entirely。　He　said　he'd　give　Derek　a　good　talking　to。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Van　Aldin。

〃What　do　you　mean　by　'Ah！'；　Dad？〃

〃Just　what　you　think　I　mean；　Ruthie。　Poor　old　Leconbury　is　a　wash…out。　Of　course　he　sympathized　with　you；　of　course　he　tried　to　soothe　you　down。　Having　got　his　son　and　heir　married　to　the　daughter　of　one　of　the　richest　men　in　the　States；　he　naturally　doesn't　want　to　mess　t