al affair.

Aunt Harriet was dumb and Uncle Austen tense, or so it seemed to the
third and youngest Blair about the board. She had been conscious of
sharp interchange checked as she entered. Uncle Austen even forgot to
look up at her interrogatively as she came in, though she was a moment
late.

Was the trouble still about the Major? Was Aunt Harriet determined to
go with him Friday evening?

Whatever the cause, Friday came, with the strained relations between
sister and brother unrelieved.

The town was in the midst of its social season, the Blair reception
being one of several crowding each other. On this Friday Harriet and
Alexina were to attend an afternoon affair, and later Alexina was to
go to an evening occasion with her uncle, who had consented icily, as
though to emphasize the fact that it was Harriet's engagement which
made it necessary for him to take the girl.

Alexina, coming down a little before five, found Harriet standing in
the parlour, ready, gloves on and wrap on a chair. To be young is to
be ardent. Not all youthful things are young. Alexina was young.

"You are beautiful, Aunt Harriet," she declared.

But it was as if Harriet did not hear. Was it premonition, that
strained absorption?

"A moment, Alexina," she was saying. "Listen, was that the bell?"

"John, probably," said Alexina, "to let us know the carriage is
waiting."

But it was Major Rathbone who came in upon them in his quick fashion a
moment later. His overcoat was a cape affair which somehow seemed to
suit his personality, and ever after Alexina could see him throwing
the cavalier-like drapery back with impatient gesture.

"You are not gone then, Harriet," he said; "I am glad for that."

Quickly as the words were spoken, the Harriet on his lips was not lost
upon Alexina. She turned to go, quite hot and with impulsive haste,
but the Major, putting out a hand, detained her.

"No, Miss Alexina; I'd really rather you would stay if you will be so
kind," he said, then turned to the older woman. "I have just had some
words with your brother on the club-house steps and I knocked him
down. I came on straight here, preferring you should hear my regret
from myself. I lost my temper."

He was facing Harriet, who had taken a step towards him at his
entrance, then had stopped. Looking at her he went on rapidly:

"There is this I want to say. Yesterday I thought never to have the
right to say it since I was too poor to ask you to list