Toffee looked hurt.

"I got you out of there, didn't I? Of course, maybe I shouldn't have left that note for the judge." Marc looked alarmed.

"What note?"

"Well, the poor dear was so disturbed about my parentage that I left a note explaining the whole thing. I guess it wasn't such a good idea."

"What did you tell him?"

"That my father was a Welsh." Toffee smiled mysteriously and crossed to inspect herself in the mantle mirror.

"I'm a wreck. You miss me while I fix up a bit?"

Marc fell into a chair as she left the room. He sat there regarding the apartment listlessly. It seemed to reflect his own life. Orderly, dignified, unexciting and infinitely lonely. Suddenly his reverie was interrupted by a knock at the door. He crossed and opened it. There, looking particularly miserable, stood Julie.

"I hope you'll excuse my coming here," she said timidly. "I've been waiting at the office for you all morning. I tried to call you here several times but there wasn't any answer. I decided to come over and wait for you. Its odd that Joseph didn't answer the phone."

"He wasn't in," said Marc. "Is something wrong?"

"Well, no--not exactly." Julie hesitated. "It's just that--well--it's just that--I want to quit my job with you, Mr. Pillsworth."

"What?" Marc's eyes widened with surprise.

"Yes, Mr. Pillsworth, I want to quit." The words came in a rush. "Now--today. I don't want to ever have to go back."

"But you mustn't leave." There was an immediacy in Marc's tone. "How would I get on without you? If it's a matter of salary--."

"No, it isn't that. You give me more than enough to get by on. As a matter of fact, I don't know where I'll ever get a better job."

Marc looked at her questioningly.

"Well, I don't know just how to explain it. It's just something that's come over me all of a sudden. I've a strange feeling that I'm wasting my life there, as if something were closing in on 

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