he　thing　up。　But　he's　got　one　foot　in　the　grave　already；　everyone　knows　that；　and　anything　he　may　say　will　cut　darned　little　ice　with　Derek。〃

〃Can't　you　do　anything；　Dad？〃　urged　Ruth；　after　a　minute　or　two。

〃I　might；〃　said　the　millionaire。　He　waited　a　second　reflectively；　and　then　went　on。

〃There　are　several　things　I　might　do；　but　there's　only　one　that　will　be　any　real　good。　How　much　pluck　have　you　got；　Ruthie？〃

She　stared　at　him。　He　nodded　back　at　her。

〃I　mean　just　what　I　say。　Have　you　got　the　grit　to　admit　to　all　the　world　that　you've　made　a　mistake？　There's　only　one　way　out　of　this　mess；　Ruthie。　Cut　your　losses　and　start　afresh。〃

〃You　mean　…〃

〃Divorce。〃

〃Divorce！〃

Van　Aldin　smiled　drily。

〃You　say　that　word；　Ruth；　as　though　you'd　never　heard　it　before。　And　yet　your　friends　are　doing　it　all　round　you　every　day。〃

〃Oh！　I　know　that。　But　…〃

She　stopped；　biting　her　lip。　Her　father　nodded　prehendingly。

〃I　know；　Ruth。　You're　like　me；　you　can't　bear　to　let　go。　But　I've　learnt；　and　you've　got　to　learn；　that　there　are　times　when　it's　the　only　way。　I　might　find　ways　of　whistling　Derek　back　to　you；　but　it　would　all　e　to　the　same　in　the　end。　He's　no　good；　Ruth；　he's　rotten　through　and　through。　And　mind　you；　I　blame　myself　for　ever　letting　you　marry　him。　But　you　were　kind　of　set　on　having　him；　and　he　seemed　in　earnest　about　turning　over　a　new　leaf　…　and　well；　I'd　crossed　you　once；　honey。。。〃

He　did　not　look　at　her　as　he　said　the　last　words。　Had　he　done　so；　he　might　have　seen　the　swift　colour　that　came　up　in　her　face。

〃You　did；〃　she　said　in　a　hard　voice。

〃I　was　too　darned　soft…hearted　to　do　it　a　second　time。　I　can't　tell　you　how　I　wish　I　had；　though。　You've　led　a　poor　kind　o