What a Man Wills

laudia speaks in her usual highly coloured fashion, but there's no doubt about her aim. She wants money, and, incidentally, all that it can buy.--Adventure. Success. Comfort. Money. We are getting plenty of variety! Rupert, what are you going to give us?"

The man with the tired eyes and the firm chin leaned forward in his seat, with his elbows resting on his knees and his chin supported in the hollow of his hands. The firelight showed the delicate network of lines round eyes and mouth, the modelling of the long curved lips.

"I--want--Love!" he said quietly, and a stir of amazement passed round the circle of listeners. He looked round and smiled, a slow, amused smile. "Surprised, aren't you? Didn't expect that from me; but it isn't as simple as it sounds. I'm not thinking of Frank's `nice' wife, and a house in the suburbs, the usual midsummer madness followed by settling down to live--stodgily!--ever after. I'm speaking of something big, primal, overwhelming; something that lasts. Love c