an. You
have aroused that."

"_Then prove it by going and building your railroad_, Mr. Winton. When
you have done that--"

He caught at the word as a drowning man catches at a straw.

"When I have won the fight--Virginia, let me see your eyes--when I
have won, I may come back to you?"

"I didn't say anything of the kind! But I will say what I said to Mr.
Adams. I like men who _do_ things. Good night." And before he could
reply she had made him open the door for her, and he was left alone on
the square-railed platform.

In the gathering-room of the private car Virginia found an atmosphere
surcharged with electrical possibilities, felt it and inhaled it,
though there was nothing visible to indicate it. The Rajah was buried
in the depths of his particular easy-chair, puffing his cigar; Bessie
had the Reverend Billy in the tete-a-tete contrivance; and Mrs.
Carteret was reading under the Pintsch drop-light at the table.

It was the chaperon who applied the firing spark to the electrical
possibilities.

"Didn't I hear you talking to some one out on the platform, Virginia?"
she asked.

"Yes, it was Mr. Winton. He came to make his excuses."

Mr. Somerville Darrah awoke out of his tobacco reverie with a start.

"Hah!" he said fiercely. Then, in his most courteous phrase: "Did I
undehstand you to say that Misteh Winton would not faveh us to-night,
my deah Virginia?"

"He could not. He has come upon--upon some other difficulty, I
believe," she stammered, steering a perilous course among the rocks of
equivocation.

"Mmph!" said the Rajah, rising. "Ah--where is Jastrow?"

The obsequious one appeared, imp-like, at the mention of his name, and
received a curt order.

"Go and find Engineer McGrath and his fireman. Tell him I want the
engine instantly. Move, seh!"

Virginia retreated to her state-room. In a few minutes she heard her
uncle go out; and shortly afterward the Rosemary's engine shook itself
free of the car and rumbled away westward. At that, Virginia went back
to the others and found a book. But if waiting inactive were
difficult, reading was blankly impossible.

"Goodness!" she exclaimed impatiently at last. "How hot you people
keep it in here! Cousin Billy, won't you take a turn with me on the
station platform? I can't breathe!"

Calvert acquiesced eagerly, scenting an opportunity. But when they
were out under the frosty stars he had the good sense to walk her up
and down in the healing silence and