dom! I do not blame you. Only," she said slowly, "in
society we do not have freedom. Here it is different. I suppose
different laws apply, different customs!"

"Miss Grace," said I, "I do not in the least understand you. You are not
the same girl I left."

"No, I am not. But that is not my fault. Can not a woman be free as much
as a man? Have I not right as much as you? Have you not been free?"

"One thing only I want to say," I rejoined, "and it is this, which I
ought not to say at all. If you mean anything regarding Ellen
Meriwether, I have to tell you, or any one, that she is clean--mind,
body, soul, heart--as clean as when I saw her first."

"Do you know, I like you for saying that!" she retorted. "I would never
marry a man who knew nothing of other women--I don't want a milksop; and
I would not marry a man who would not lie for the sake of a sweetheart.
You lie beautifully! Do you know, Jack, I believe you are a bit of a
gentleman, after all!

"But tell me, when is the wedding to be?" This last with obvious effort.

"You have not advised me."

"Oh, I beg your pardon. I meant your marriage with Ellen Meriwether. I
supposed of course you had quite forgotten me!"

"Ellen Meriwether is already married," I said to her, with a calmness
which surprised myself. But what surprised me most was the change which
came upon her face at the words--the flush--the gleam of triumph, of
satisfaction. I guessed this much and no more--that she had had certain
plans, and that now she had other plans, changed with lightning
swiftness, and by reason of my words.

"Lieutenant Lawrence Belknap and Miss Ellen Meriwether were married, I
presume, some time after I started for the East," I went on. "But they
were never engaged before our return to the settlements. It was all very
suddenly arranged."

"How like a story-book! So he forgot her little incidents with you--all
summer--side by side--day and night! How romantic! I don't know that I
could have done so much, had I been a man, and myself not guilty of the
same incidents. At least, he kept his promise."

"There had never been any promise at all between them."

"Then Captain Orme was quite mistaken?"

"Captain Orme does not trouble himself always to be accurate."

"At least, then, you are unmarried, Jack?"

"Yes, and likely to be for some years."

Now her face changed once more. Whether by plan of her own or not, I
cannot say, but it softened to a more gentle--shall I say