spiders, but I was ashamed of it, and kept a little
menagerie of spiders until I had got over the feeling; that is, pretty
much got over it, for I don't love the creatures very dearly, though I
don't scream when I see one."

"What did you tell me, Miss Vincent, was this fellow's particular
antipathy?"

That is just the question. I told you that we don't know and we can't
guess what it is. The people here are tired out with trying to discover
some good reason for the young man's keeping out of the way of everybody,
as he does. They say he is odd or crazy, and they don't seem to be able
to tell which. It would make the old ladies of the village sleep a great
deal sounder,--yes, and some of the young ladies, too,--if they could
find out what this Mr. Kirkwood has got into his head, that he never
comes near any of the people here."

"I think I can find out," said the Interviewer, whose professional
ambition was beginning to be excited. "I never came across anybody yet
that I could n't get something out of. I am going to stay here a week or
two, and before I go I will find out the secret, if there is any, of this
Mr. Maurice Kirkwood."

We must leave the Interviewer to his contrivances until they present us
with some kind of result, either in the shape of success or failure.

XI

THE INTERVIEWER ATTACKS THE SPHINX.

When Miss Euthymia Tower sent her oar off in flashing splinters, as she
pulled her last stroke in the boat-race, she did not know what a strain
she was putting upon it. She did know that she was doing her best, but
how great the force of her best was she was not aware until she saw its
effects. Unconsciousness belonged to her robust nature, in all its
manifestations. She did not pride herself on her knowledge, nor reproach
herself for her ignorance. In every way she formed a striking contrast
to her friend, Miss Vincent. Every word they spoke betrayed the
difference between them: the sharp tones of Lurida's head-voice,
penetrative, aggressive, sometimes irritating, revealed the corresponding
traits of mental and moral character; the quiet, conversational contralto
of Euthymia was the index of a nature restful and sympathetic.

The friendships of young girls prefigure the closer relations which will
one day come in and dissolve their earlier intimacies. The dependence of
two young friends may be mutual, but one will always lean more heavily
than the other; the masculine and feminine elements will b