st; but she sat down
again with an expression of determination. Howat looted about from his
removed place of being. "I do!" Myrtle repeated. "At first he seemed to
like--I mean I liked him, and then everything changed, got horrid. Some
one interfered." Resentment, suspicion, dominated her, she grew shrill
with anger. "I saw him making faces at Howat, as if he and Howat, as if
Howat had, well--"

"Don't generalize," said Howat coolly; "be particular."

"As if you had deliberately spoiled any chance, yes," she declared
defiantly, "any chance I had."

"That's ridiculous," Gilbert Penny declared. "What," he asked his wife,
"are they all driving at?" She professed herself equally puzzled. "Howat
would say nothing disadvantageous to young Forsythe. He knows what we
all hope." Caroline suddenly leaned forward, speaking in a level voice:
"This has nothing to do with Howat, but with me. I am going to tell you
at once, so that you can all say what you wish, get as angry as you
like, and then accept what--what had to be. David and I love each other;
we are going to be married."

Gilbert Penny's surprise slowly gave place to a dark tide suffusing his
countenance. "You and David," he half stuttered, "getting married--like
that." Myrtle was rigid in an indignation that left her momentarily
without speech. Mrs. Penny, Howat saw, drew into the slight remoteness
from which she watched the conflicts of her family. "I know I'm
fearfully bold, yes, indecent," Caroline went on, "and undutiful,
impertinent. I'm sorry, truly, for that. Perhaps you'll forgive me,
later. But I won't apologize for loving David."

"Incredible," her father pronounced. "A girl announcing, without the
slightest warrant or authority, that she intends to marry. And trampling
on her sister's heart in the bargain." Howat expostulated, "What does it
matter which he marries? The main affair is to consolidate the
families." The elder glared at him. "Be silent!" he commanded. Howat
Penny's ever present resentment rose to the surface. "I am not a girl,"
he stated; "nor yet a nigger. And, personally, I think David was
extremely wise."

"I was sure of it," Myrtle cried; "he--he has talked against me, helped
Caroline behind my back." She sobbed thinly, with her arm across her
eyes. "If I thought anything like that had occurred," their father
asserted, "Howat would--" he paused, gazing heavily about at his family.

Howat's ill temper arose. "Yes--?" he demanded with a sh