we's eyes shone with the delight his tale inspired in her. She
lived largely in the land of ideals, and this fight against wrong moved
her mightily. She could feel for him none of the shame which he felt
for himself at being mixed up in so bad a business. He was playing a
man's part, had chosen it at risk of his life. That was enough. In
every fiber of her, she was glad that good fortune had given her the
chance to bear a part of the battle. In her inmost heart she was even
glad that to the day of her death she must bear the scar that would
remind her she had suffered in so good a cause.

Virginia, for once obliterating herself, perceived how greatly taken
they were with each other. At bottom, nearly every woman is a
match-maker. This one was no exception. She liked both this man and
this woman, and her fancy had already begun to follow her hopes. Never
before had Laska appeared to show much interest in any of the opposite
sex with whom her friend had seen her. Now she was all enthusiasm, had
forgotten completely the pain of her wound in the spirit's glow.

"She loved me for the danger I had pass'd,
And I loved her that she did pity them.
This only is the witchcraft I have us'd.'"

Virginia quoted softly to herself, her eyes on the young woman so
finely unconscious of the emotion that thrilled her.

Not until the clock in the hall below struck two did Yesler remember
his appointment in the Ridgway Building. The doctor had come and was
about to go. He suggested that if Yesler felt it would be safe for him
to go, they might walk across to the hotel together.

"And leave us alone." Laska could have bitten her tongue after the
words were out.

Virginia explained. "The Leighs are out of the city to-night, and it
happens that even the servants are gone. I asked Miss Lowe to stay with
me all night, but, of course, she feels feverish and nervous after this
excitement. Couldn't you send a man to watch the rest of the night out
in the house?"

"Why don't You stay, Mr. Yesler?" the doctor suggested. "You could
sleep here, no doubt."

"You might have your meeting here. It is neutral ground. I can phone to
Mr. Ridgway," proposed Virginia in a low voice to Yesler.

"Doesn't that seem to imply that I'm afraid to leave?" laughed Yesler.

"It implies that we are afraid to have you. Laska would worry both on
your account and our own. I think you owe it to her to stay."

"Oh, if that's the way it strikes you," he agreed