ave called
it. I wonder if you have any idea who that girlhood hero of mine was?"

"Was he a hero?" Armitage was bending over the carburetor. He waited
a moment and then as Miss Wellington did not reply he added; "Now that
you have placed me, I trust I shan't lose my position."

"I always knew I should see you again," said the girl as though she had
not heard Armitage's banality. "I know now why I spoke to you on the
_General_ and why I wrote you that note in church." Her slipper beat
an impatient tattoo on the door. "But why," she began, "why are you
willing to enter service as a physical instructor, or motor car driver?
I don't un--"

Armitage interrupted.

"Your mother asked me if I had been in college. I told her I had, but
that I preferred not to say where, or why I left."

"Oh!" she said, and her eyes suffused with pity. "I am so sorry. But
you _must_ tell me one thing now. Was your leaving because of--of
anything--that would make me sorry I had found--" she smiled, but
looked at him eagerly--"the subject of the Dying Gladiator?"

"I hope not."

"You are not certain?"

"Miss Wellington, there are certain reasons why the position you helped
me to obtain was vitally necessary. I am a dependant in your house. I
can assure you that you will never find anything half so grievous
against me as that which you have already found--your 'Dying Gladiator'
a servant. You must think of that."

"But I am not so deluded as to think you cannot explain that" cried the
girl. "How foolish! You are not a servant, never were, and I am sure
never will be one. And I know you have n't sneaked in as a yellow
newspaper reporter, or magazine writer," tentatively. "You are not a
sneak."

"No, I have not the intention, nor the ability, to make copy of my
experiences," said Armitage.

"Intention!" echoed the girl. "Well, since you suggest the word, just
what was, or is, your intention then?--if I may ask."

Armitage straightened and looked full at the girl.

"Suppose I should say that ever since that morning on the _General_ I
had--" Armitage hesitated. "I reckon I 'd rather not say that," he
added.

"No, I reckon you had better not," she said placidly. "In the
meantime, how long do you intend staying with us before giving notice?"

Armitage did not reply immediately. He stood for a moment in deep
thought. When he looked up his face was serious.

"Miss Wellington, I have neither done nor said anything