ion will be
for Miss Scarlett and her advisers to name."

"But they may name the keeping of the promise they say you have made!"

"I have thought that all over."

"But your engagement to----"

"The lady you are about to mention," said Amidon, "must have ceased to
care much for me, after what I am told took place the other night; and
when she learns of this other disgrace, as she must before she sees me
again--if she ever does--it will be all over--for ever--except the
wrong to her--for which reparation can never be made. I----"

"Oh, it is too dreadful!" cried Madame le Claire. "And for that worst
thing--the other night--I only am to blame! I put into you the
character in which you have become weak and drawn aside by suggestions
not natural to your own character. Can you ever forgive me?"

"I have never thought of blaming you!" he protested. "You? Why, no
one ever had so good a friend; all the chance I have had to win
happiness here, you gave me. I have lost that--by misfortune. Now
help me to make things as near right as I can. Put me back into the
world of Brassfield, and let me know the worst that I--he--has done."

"Coom een!" said the voice of the professor in the corridor. "Coom
een! Clara iss not here now: den she must be someveres. Pe bleaced to
sit vile I look. Anyhow, she vill soon return. Ach, Herr Cox, ve
missed you creatly at our supper--eatings of reasons and sdreams of
souls! Ach! Here iss our friendt te chutche, ant Herr
Amidon--Brassfield, I mean!"

Madame le Claire appeared in the archway.

"Ah, Miss Scarlett," said she, "you are early. May I ask you to
return, in----"

"No!" It was the voice of Miss Scarlett which replied. "No, I'm not
going! And if 'Gene Brassfield is in there, Billy Cox has something to
say to him. Here, Mr. Alvord, you come in, too; he's out there hunting
for 'Gene. Billy, do your duty now!"

"Pardon me," said Mr. Cox, advancing into the next room, followed by
Miss Scarlett. "Pardon me, Judge Blodgett, I have a few words for you
and your client. Miss Scarlett has made me agree to apologize to Mr.
Brassfield about that summons; and if 'Gene Brassfield thinks I owe him
any apology for putting it on to him a little before his out-of-town
friends, I'll make it. But here are the facts, and he knows it: for
four years he's been rawhiding me at every chance with his practical
jokes. He had me arrested and detained for a whole day on fake
telegrams a