om him! He's rather a
strange man. He can be hard. She's afraid of him. She couldn't come to
you herself, and she dares not have you back because Mr. Bennett is
still there, and if he sees you--but you understand, don't you? I
offered to come. We are great friends, she and I. But--I wanted to come
for myself too. Ian is so terribly obstinate. He made up his mind that
you needed his help, and that he'd stand by you whatever happened. It is
his boast that he's never broken his word, nor failed any one. Even his
love for me wouldn't make him give up--and he won't give you up while he
thinks you are alone and needing a friend. See what he has done for you!
He has gone and fetched these MacDonalds. I knew something had happened
because his chauffeur was wired for, to meet him somewhere, but it was a
blow to hear from Barbara that he'd followed you. She showed me your
telegram. I almost lost hope then, that anything could ever come right
between Ian and me. But when she asked me to see you, I thought--it
seemed just possible, if I could make you understand----"

"Please tell me," Barrie said, still in that strange, dry voice, unlike
hers, and very old sounding for a young girl, "please tell me exactly
what you thought I might do--when you'd made me understand?"

"I thought you might feel that the only way to free Ian Somerled from
his supposed duty would be to marry some one else quickly. You know he
blames Barbara; but if you had a husband, you wouldn't need a guardian
any more. Then, if I asked him to forgive me--and I would ask him, for
I've no pride left!--he might come back. I believe he'd be glad to come
back, for we loved each other dearly before you parted us!"

"That is true," said Barrie; "if I marry some one else he will
be--released. I didn't know what trouble I was making for him."

"No, you didn't know, of course, for _he_ couldn't tell you," Aline
agreed. "But now you do know. Oh, the only way, if Ian is to be made
happy again in spite of himself, is for you to marry Basil. Think how
happy you will make him too! And Barbara. Every one will be happy, and
all through you."

"I'll see Basil and talk to him," said Barrie.

"You _will_? You little angel! But I must see him first and prepare him.
Are you going to do what we all want? Even Ian wants it at heart, though
he doesn't know it yet, for it would be such a relief for him to feel
you were all right, and he--could go back to--old times."

"I'd marry Basi