"What do you mean?" she asked. "What do you mean? Spoiling--what?"

"Why--why, you and John, you know. Whatever happened between you and
him happened that night when he come to Scarford. And he wouldn't have
come--not then--if I hadn't written for him."

Gertrude was speechless. Her father went on.

"Long's we're confessin'," he said, "we might as well make a clean job
of it. I wrote him, all on my own hook. You see, Gertie, 'twas on your
account mainly. I was gettin' pretty desperate about you. Instead of
straightenin' out your ma's course you were followin' in her wake,
runnin' ahead of her, if anything. It looked as if you'd have her hull
down and out of the race, if you kept on. _I_ couldn't hold you back,
and, bein' desperate, as I say, I wrote John to come and see if he
could. And I told him to come quick.... Hey? What did you say?"

The young lady had said nothing; she had been listening, however, and
now she seemed to have found an answer to a puzzle.

"So that was why he came?" she said, in a low tone, as if thinking
aloud. "That was why. But--but without a word to me."

"Oh, I 'specially wrote him not to tell you he was comin'. I didn't want
you to know. I wanted to have a talk with him first and tell him just
how matters stood. After you'd gone to Chapter meetin' that night--I
always thought 'twas queer, your bein' so determined to go, but I see
why now; 'twas part of your plan, wasn't it?"

"Yes, yes, of course. Go on."

"Well, I judge John thought 'twas funny, too--but never mind. After
you'd gone, he and I had our talk. I told him everything. He was kind
of troubled; I could see that; but he stood up for you through thick and
thin. He only laughed when I told him--told him some things, those that
worried me most."

Gertrude noticed his hesitation.

"What were those things?" she asked.

"Oh, nothin'. They seem so foolish now; but at that time--"

"Daddy, did you tell him of my--my supposed friendship for Mr.
Hungerford?"

Daniel reluctantly nodded. "Yes," he admitted. "I told him some. Maybe I
told him more than was absolutely true. Perhaps I exaggerated a little.
But he was so stubborn in not believin', that.... Hey? By Godfreys!" as
the thought struck him for the first time, "THAT wasn't what ailed John,
was it? He wasn't JEALOUS of that consarned Percy?"

Gertrude did not answer.

"It couldn't be," continued Daniel. "He's got more sense than that.
Besides, you told him, when you and h