to say." He
remained a moment longer in the same position; then he jerked himself
up. "What I want you to say is that you like me--what I want you to say
is that you pity me." He sprang up and came to her. "What I want you to
say is that you'll _save_ me!"

Fleda hesitated. "Why do you need saving, when you announced to me just
now that you're a free man?"

He too hesitated, but he was not checked. "It's just for the reason that
I'm free. Don't you know what I mean, Miss Vetch? I want you to marry
me."

Fleda, at this, put out her hand in charity; she held his own, which
quickly grasped it a moment, and if he had described her as shining at
him it may be assumed that she shone all the more in her deep, still
smile. "Let me hear a little more about your freedom first," she said.
"I gather that Mrs. Brigstock was not wholly satisfied with the way you
disposed of her question."

"I dare say she wasn't. But the less she's satisfied the more I'm free."

"What bearing have _her_ feelings, pray?" Fleda asked.

"Why, Mona's much worse than her mother. She wants much more to give me
up."

"Then why doesn't she do it?"

"She will, as soon as her mother gets home and tells her."

"Tells her what?" Fleda inquired.

"Why, that I'm in love with _you_!"

Fleda debated. "Are you so very sure she will?"

"Certainly I'm sure, with all the evidence I already have. That will
finish her!" Owen declared.

This made his companion thoughtful again. "Can you take such pleasure in
her being 'finished'--a poor girl you've once loved?"

Owen waited long enough to take in the question; then with a serenity
startling even to her knowledge of his nature, "I don't think I can have
_really_ loved her, you know," he replied.

Fleda broke into a laugh which gave him a surprise as visible as the
emotion it testified to. "Then how am I to know that you 'really'
love--anybody else?"

"Oh, I'll show you that!" said Owen.

"I must take it on trust," the girl pursued. "And what if Mona doesn't
give you up?" she added.

Owen was baffled but a few seconds; he had thought of everything. "Why,
that's just where you come in."

"To save you? I see. You mean I must get rid of her for you." His
blankness showed for a little that he felt the chill of her cold logic;
but as she waited for his rejoinder she knew to which of them it cost
most. He gasped a minute, and that gave her time to say: "You see, Mr.
Owen, how impossible it is to talk of s