not find your
refusal as pleasantly spoken as if you had taken it at second-hand," and a
feeble smile parted his lips for a moment. "But you know Dexie's ways,
Hugh, so you must abide the consequences."

"I have borne much for love of her, and I am still willing to suffer if I
may be rewarded in the end by seeing her once again," he answered
earnestly. "A sight of her face would have been more welcome than an
angel's visit during these long, weary months; to look back on them is like
looking into desolation," he added, in a low, serious tone.

There was silence in the room for some moments. Hugh sat listening for the
first footfall that would announce Dexie's approach, while Mr. Sherwood
lay back, with closed eyes, thinking what an easy solution of the trouble
it would be if Hugh would turn to Gussie for the gift that Dexie denied
him. Then, rousing himself, he talked to Hugh of his travels and adventures
on sea and land.

Meanwhile Dexie had rushed in haste to the house of her friend, and from
thence despatched a note that brought Guy Traverse to her side, and her
agitation and alarm were so great that Guy was almost unable to soothe her.

"I cannot go home without you, Guy. There can be only one thing brought him
here, and I cannot face him unless you are with me."

"I will go with you, certainly, dear, but I cannot understand why you are
so frightened, for by your own description of him he is a gentleman."

A few hurried explanations of Hugh's past history in connection with
herself were given, and Guy grasped the headlines of it as it poured from
Dexie's lips.

"As my promised wife, darling, you need fear no further annoyance from him.
I will see to that," he replied. "Give me a few minutes while I go to the
hotel and change my suit. I have been putting in shafting with the men, and
am hardly presentable in my present condition," he laughingly added.

"I am putting you to great inconvenience, I fear, Guy; but I cannot help
it, for it will not do to send word that I will not go back till he is
gone."

"No, certainly not. He would put a different construction on your absence.
Let me find a more smiling face on my return, darling, for I will take care
of you."

Half an hour later Guy and Dexie had entered the house; and finding that
Hugh was still with her father, she left Guy in the parlor while she sought
Jarvis in the kitchen.

"He is still here, then? Well, tell Eliza she can place _two_ extra plates