half the time. And when he's
there, he's grumpy, like all the rest." She was saying the things she
had told herself, on the way up, that she would DIE rather than say; to
Miss Georgie, of all people.

"I expect he's pretty worried, chicken, over that land business."
Miss Georgie offered her candy, and Evadna waved the box from her
impatiently, as if her spirits were altogether too low for sweets.

"Well, I'm very sure I'M not to blame for those men being there," she
retorted petulantly. "He"--she hesitated, and then plunged heedlessly
on--"he acts just as if I weren't anybody at all. I'm sure, if he
expects me to be a doll to be played with and then dumped into a corner
where I'm to smile and smile until he comes and picks me up again--"

"Now, chicken, what's the use of being silly?" Miss Georgie turned her
head slightly away, and stared out of the window. "He's worried, I tell
you, and instead of sulking because he doesn't stay and make love--"

"Well, upon my word! Just as if I wanted--"

"You really ought to help him by being kind and showing a little
sympathy, instead--"

"It appears that the supply of sympathy--"

"Instead of making it harder for him by feeling neglected and letting
him see that you do. My Heavens above!" Miss Georgie faced her suddenly
with pink cheeks. "When a man is up against a problem--and carries his
life in his hand--"

"You don't know a thing about it!" Evadna stopped rocking, and sat up
very straight in the chair. "And even if that were true, is that any
reason why he should AVOID me? I'M not threatening his life!"

"He doesn't avoid you. And you're acting sillier than I ever supposed
you could. He can't be in two places at once, can he? Now, let's be
sensible, chicken. Grant--"

"Oh--h!" There was a peculiar, sliding inflection upon that word, which
made Miss Georgie's hand shut into a fist.

"Grant"--Miss Georgie put a defiant emphasis upon it--"is doing all he
can to get to the bottom of that jumping business. There's something
crooked about it, and he knows it, and is trying to--"

"I know all that." Evadna interrupted without apology.

"Well, of course, if you DO--then I needn't tell you how silly it is for
you to complain of being neglected, when you know his time is all taken
up with trying to ferret out a way to block their little game. He feels
in a certain sense responsible--"

"Yes, I know. He thinks he should have been watching somebody or
something instead of