"What?" cried Martha, in surprise.
"Your wife?" demanded Gordon.
"Precisely," continued Clayton. "I bid higher than anything you can offer, Gordon. My bid includes a wedding ring."
Gordon stepped back, looked from Martha to Clayton, and back again to the girl, who stood, confused and embarrassed, with her eyes turned toward the floor. Then the innate refinement and the result of years of breeding asserted itself in Gordon's pale face. He stepped forward seriously to Martha.
"Miss Farnum," he said, humbly and sincerely, "better men than I have made mistakes. May I wish you every happiness? The same to you, Clayton, with all my heart. Good-bye."
He turned and walked from the room. Not until he had gone did Martha dare to look Clayton squarely in the face.
"I was going to write you this morning," she said, "to tell you that I am going home."
"Without your manager's permission? Not even a two weeks' notice?"
"Do be serious, please," she pleaded. Then with a sudden outburst of passion: "I've failed in everything I ever tried."
"You haven't failed in my eyes," declared Clayton, taking her hand, while she turned away from him. "You have merely missed one opportunity you had dreamed of."