self look worse in their eyes. The sooner you make amends for
your unpardonable act, the better it will be for yourself."

"Oh! Dexie, I was never so ashamed in my life! I never dreamt it was his
letter; I thought it was yours."

"And what business would you have to read out anybody's letter to a company
of people? I am glad to hear that you feel ashamed, for well you may! Come
downstairs at once, unless you want everyone to cut you forever."

Gussie followed her sister into the dining-room, and she set about her
duties as well as she could, but finding that Traverse was not in the room
she soon felt more at ease.

Dexie felt that she must see Mr. Traverse before the rest entered the
parlor. She had been so astonished at his bold claim of ownership that for
a moment she could not understand it, but the truth flashed on her mind
that he had done it to shield her, and she blessed him for it.

Guy looked round as the door opened, and coming forward he took the tray
she carried in her hands and set it on a small table near, saying:

"Is this for both of us, Miss Dexie? Sit here," and he placed a screen to
hide them from the gaze of intruders; then coming over to her side, drew
the letter from his pocket, saying: "Forgive me, Miss Dexie, for claiming
your property; it is yours, is it not?"

"Unfortunately, yes; and you were more than kind to shield me as you did,"
and she put the cause of the trouble in the deepest corner of her pocket.
"I did not know what to do when I heard Gussie reading it aloud."

"I knew at once it was yours by the way you looked; but I thought I would
play the vanquished lover, and crave your pardon for my audacity
afterwards," and he looked intently into Dexie's flushed face.

"Believe me, Mr. Traverse, the writer of that letter is not the silly man
one would expect, judging by his foolish words. In everything else he is
worthy of respect."

"Do you think it foolish for a man to love a woman with such love as he
speaks of in the letter?"

"Yes; when the man knows it is useless, he should try and forget her."

"He should try--hum!--well, it seems one does not always succeed in
forgetting, even with much trying. Miss Dexie, you owe me a favor; tell me
honestly how you stand with this lover from over the sea. Are you engaged
to be married to him, yet give him cause to write in such a strain?"

"No, certainly not; I am aware that this letter has given you the
impression that I have been corr