risen, while Sally gazed up at her with a curious
expression in her eyes. Agatha was perfectly composed. She felt no
sympathy for Hawtrey, who was visibly confused. She was not surprised
that he found the situation a somewhat difficult one.

"You have been to Winnipeg?" she asked.

"No," answered Hawtrey, with evident relief that she had chosen a safe
topic, "only to Brandon. Sally has some friends there, and she spends a
day or two with them once or twice each winter. Brandon is quite a
lively place after the prairie. I went in last night to bring her back."
He turned to his companion, "I think you have met Miss Ismay?"

Agatha was conscious that Sally's eyes were fixed upon her, and that
Mrs. Hastings was watching them all with quiet amusement, but she was a
little astonished when the girl moved some wraps from the seat opposite
her.

"Yes," she said, "I have. If Miss Ismay doesn't mind, I should like to
talk to her."

Hawtrey's relief was evident, and Agatha glanced at him with a smile
that was half-contemptuous. He had carefully kept out of her way since
he had written her the note, and now it seemed only natural that if
there was anything to be said, he should leave it to Sally.

"I think I'll go along for a smoke," he observed with evident impatience
to leave them, and he retired precipitately.

Mrs. Hastings looked after him, and laughed in a manner that caused
Sally to wince.

"He doesn't seem anxious to talk to me," she said. "You can come along
to the next car by and by, Agatha."

She moved away, and Agatha, who sat down opposite Sally, looked at her
questioningly.

"Well?" she said.

Sally made a little deprecatory gesture. "I've something to say, but
it's hard. To begin with, are you very angry with me?"

"No," answered Agatha. "I think I really am a little angry with Gregory,
but not altogether because he chose you."

Sally considered this statement for a moment or two before she looked up
again.

"Well," she confessed, "not long ago, I wanted to hate you, and I guess
I 'most succeeded. It made things easier. Still, I want to say that I
don't hate you now." She hesitated a moment. "I'd like you to forgive
me."

Agatha smiled. "I can do that willingly," she said.

Sally was disconcerted by her quiet ease of manner and perfect candor.
It was evidently not quite what she had looked for.

"Then you were never very fond of him?" she suggested.

"No," answered Agatha reflectively, "since