at it? Ha! ha! was it now? Confess; was it?"

Gertrude did not answer. She moved toward the door. Mr. Hungerford
laughingly blocked the passage.

"No, no!" he cried. "No, no! Mustn't run away. I am going to say it, and
you must hear me. Come, don't be cross."

"Mr. Hungerford, will you stand aside? I can not talk with you to-night,
or listen. I am going to my room."

The tone in which this was uttered should have been a warning, but
Cousin Percy was in no condition to recognize warnings, or to heed them
if he had. His smile grew more tender and his tone more intimate.

"Not yet," he smiled; "not just yet. I can't permit it. Gertie, I--"

"If you don't stand aside I shall call my father."

"What? Call the old gentleman? No, you don't mean it. Of course you
don't. You wouldn't be so unreasonable. Come, come! we're friends at
least. We understand each other, don't we?"

"I understand YOU, thoroughly."

"Of course you do," with a triumphant leer. "And you know what I am
going to say. Ah ha! I was sure you did. And you've confessed. Gertie,
my dearest girl, I--What! Going? Not until you pay toll. I'm keeper of
the gate and you must pay before you pass, you know. If you won't listen
you must pay. Ha! ha!"

He held out his hands. Gertrude shrank back. She was not afraid of him,
but she did fear a scene. She had threatened to call her father, but she
could not do that. If she did her mother would be frightened. She moved
away, to the other side of the library table.

Cousin Percy interpreted her retreat as a sign of surrender. He followed
her, laughing.

"Come!" he insisted. "I knew you didn't mean it. Come, my dear! Just
one. I--"

He tripped over the captain's favorite footstool and fell to his knees.
With a sudden movement Gertrude jerked the cord of the electrolier on
the table. The lights went out. She dodged around the table, through the
doorway, into the hall, and up the stairs. Mr. Hungerford, pawing in the
darkness at the offending footstool, swore. Then he laughed.

"Good!" he exclaimed. "Very good, but not good enough. You can't escape
that way. I shall find you. Where are you hiding? Eh! Ah, there you
are!"

He had scrambled to his feet and hurried to the doorway. There were the
sounds of footsteps and the rustle of skirts at the other end of the
hall.

"There you are!" he cried. "I've caught you. Now you must pay--twice."

He put his arm about a feminine waist and imprinted a kiss upon a
femin