tock-still and silent, eying Diane as a bird eyes a
trap before hopping into it. Though he knew her as a friend to Dorothea
and himself, he knew her as a subtle friend, hiding under her sympathy
many of those kindly devices which experience keeps to foil the young.
He did not complain of her for that, finding it legitimate that she
should avail herself of what he called "the stock in trade of a
chaperon"; while it had often amused him to outwit her. But now it was a
matter of Greek meeting Greek, and she must be given to understand that
he was the stronger. How she had discovered their plans he did not stop
to think; but he must make it plain to her that he was not duped into
ascribing her presence at Lakefield to an accident.

"Is it an extraordinary meeting, Mrs. Eveleth--for you?"

"No, not for me," Diane replied, readily. "I only thought it might
be--for you."

"Then I'll admit that it is."

"But I hoped, too", she continued, moving a little nearer to him, "that
my coming might be in the way of a--pleasant surprise."

"Oh yes; certainly; very pleasant--very pleasant indeed."

"I'm a good deal relieved to hear you say that, Mr. Wappinger," she
said, "because there was a possibility that you mightn't like it."

"Whether I like it or not", he said, warily, "will depend upon your
motive."

"I don't think you'll find any fault with that. I came because I thought
I could help Dorothea. I hoped I might be able indirectly to help you,
too."

"What makes you think we're in need of help?"

She came near enough for him to see her smile.

"Because, until after you're married, you'll both be in an embarrassing
position."

"There are worse things in the world than that."

"Not many. I can hardly imagine two people like Dorothea and yourself
more awkwardly placed than you'll be from the minute she arrives.
Remember, you're not Strephon and Chloe in a pastoral; you're two most
sophisticated members of a most sophisticated set, who scarcely know how
to walk about excepting according to the rules of a code of etiquette.
Neither of you was made for escapade, and I'm sure you don't like it any
more than she will."

"And so you've come to relieve the situation?"

"Exactly."

"And for anything else?"

"What else should I come for?"

"You might have come for--two or three things."

"One of which would be to interfere with your plans. Well, I haven't. If
I had wanted to do that, I could have done it long ago. I'll