d now he'll find I've been to her, and that
may--oh, my God, why didn't I keep quiet a little longer, and trust
him?"

"You had every right to speak, when you found he was telling lies," said
Mrs. Dinnett.

And while they quarrelled, Raymond returned to North Hill in a mood that
could not keep silence. He and Arthur Waldron smoked after supper, and
when Estelle had gone to bed, the younger spoke and took up the
conversation of the preceding night where he had dropped it. The speech
that now passed, however, proceeded on a false foundation, for Raymond
only told Arthur what he pleased and garbled the facts by withholding
what was paramount.

"You were talking of Sabina Dinnett last night," he said. "What would
you think if I told you I was going to marry her, Waldron?"

"A big 'if.' But you're not going to tell me so. You would surely have
told me yesterday if you had meant that."

"Why shouldn't I if I want to?"

"I always keep out of personal things--even with pals. I strained a
point with you last night for friendship, Ray. Is the deed done, or
isn't it? If it is, there is nothing left but to congratulate you and
wish you both luck."

"If it isn't?"

Mr. Waldron was cautious.

"You're not going to draw me till I know as much as you know, old chap.
Either you're engaged, or you're not."

"Say it's an open question--then what?"

"How can I say it's an open question after this? I'm not going to say a
word about it."

"Well, I thought we were engaged; but it seems there's a bit of doubt in
the air still."

"Then you'd better clear that doubt, before you mention the subject
again. Until you and she agree about it, naturally it's nobody else's
business."

"And yet everybody makes it their business, including you. Why did you
advise me to look out what I was doing last night?"

"Because you're young, boy, and I thought you might make a mistake and
do an unsporting thing. That was nothing to do with your marrying her.
How was I to know such an idea was in your mind? Naturally nobody
supposed any question of that sort had arisen."

"Why not?"

Waldron felt a little impatient.

"You know as well as I do. Men in your position don't as a rule
contemplate marriage with women, however charming and clever, who--. But
this is nonsense. I'm not going to answer your stupid questions."

"Then you'd say--?"

"No, I wouldn't. I'll say nothing about it. You're wanting to get
something for nothing now, and prese