men."

"What is?" I asked, rather abruptly.

"Why, to go to houses and wander from room to room until their
curiosity is satisfied."

I was angry, though I knew that she meant not a word she said. "Does
Mrs. Bledsoe indulge in that habit?" I asked.

"Habit? I said custom. Mrs. Bledsoe is a changed woman since she has
lived among people who know something of the world and its ways, and
who are not slave-drivers."

"I believe this is Miss Jane Ryder," I said.

"Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I
tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.

"I assure you I had not the least desire to disturb you. I came in here
with the hope, though not the expectation, of finding a lad who came
here last night."

"He is not here," she asserted, "and if he were, he has no desire to
see you. He told me something of his encounter with you, and if that is
the way you treat a young lad, I wonder how you would have treated an
unprotected woman."

I would not trust myself to speak to her. I made her a low obeisance
and retired from the room; but I was not to escape so easily. She
pursued her advantage; she followed me out into the hall. "Is it true
that the young man compelled you to accompany him to this house last
night?"

"If he told you so, madam, it is true," I replied.

"After threatening to give you a strapping?" she asked. Her mood was
almost exultant, though she had been gloomy enough when I first
disturbed her.

"If he says so, madam."

"He didn't say so, but I believe he slapped your face, for it is still
red."

"Perhaps he did, madam."

"I am no madam, I'll let you know; why do you call me so?"

"It is simply a term of respect, ma'am. Our young people are taught to
be respectful to ladies."

"You may be sure that the young man would have remained to see you, but
I was afraid you'd run away and leave your friend." Women can be very
childish sometimes, and this was pure childishness.

"Why, I had no idea that he bore me any ill-will," I remarked. "He
trotted along by my side in perfect good-humor when I was fetching him
home. If he has any grudge against me, I do not think the fault is
mine. Say to him that I apologize most humbly for any offence I may
have given him." Jane Ryder was now sure that I did not connect her
with the lad--was sure that I had not pierced her disguise, and she
became at once very much friendlier. Her relief was apparent in voice
and