Page:Man's Country (1923).pdf/303

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eyes of an imaginative and romantic young woman, might attach a certain glamour that would outshine the most brilliant achievements of a mere domestic variety of business man."

"That's Hook, of course," said George, recognizing the picture; "but why on earth would Fay want to see me doing the kind of things that nervy young Englishman does?"

"Because admiration is a great quickener of woman's love, and her love for you was being threatened."

"But Doctor," the husband reminded, "we—we still love each other. We're just not—not happy." And then the hint in the specialist's words caught him. "Threatened?" he suddenly demanded.

"By her admiration for Sir Brian Hook."

George Judson's face turned livid. "Go on! Go on!" he said helplessly. "What are you going to tell me next?"

The doctor had remained perfectly calm, unresentful, pitying. "Simply that this four-year struggle which you narrated to me is a struggle between two loves. One love was being starved, deprived of some of the things that love feeds on. The other was being nurtured by a full diet of those very qualities as displayed in Sir Brian Hook."

"Hook!" bellowed George, angrily disre-