hat you mean----"

"Sometimes I've thought--I've been afraid that you avoided me."

"Avoided you?"

"Yes! Tried not to be alone with me."

She might have told him that there was no reason why she should be
alone with him, and that it was very strange he should make this
complaint of her. But she did not. She kept looking down at the fan,
and then she lifted her burning face and looked at the clock again.
"Mother and Irene will be sorry to miss you," she gasped.

He instantly rose and came towards her. She rose too, and mechanically
put out her hand. He took it as if to say good-night. "I didn't mean
to send you away," she besought him.

"Oh, I'm not going," he answered simply. "I wanted to say--to say that
it's I who make her talk about you. To say I----There is something I
want to say to you; I've said it so often to myself that I feel as if
you must know it." She stood quite still, letting him keep her hand,
and questioning his face with a bewildered gaze. "You MUST know--she
must have told you--she must have guessed----" Penelope turned white,
but outwardly quelled the panic that sent the blood to her heart.
"I--I didn't expect--I hoped to have seen your father--but I must speak
now, whatever----I love you!"

She freed her hand from both of those he had closed upon it, and went
back from him across the room with a sinuous spring. "ME!" Whatever
potential complicity had lurked in her heart, his words brought her
only immeasurable dismay.

He came towards her again. "Yes, you. Who else?"

She fended him off with an imploring gesture. "I thought--I--it
was----"

She shut her lips tight, and stood looking at him where he remained in
silent amaze. Then her words came again, shudderingly. "Oh, what have
you done?"

"Upon my soul," he said, with a vague smile, "I don't know. I hope no
harm?"

"Oh, don't laugh!" she cried, laughing hysterically herself. "Unless
you want me to think you the greatest wretch in the world!"

"I?" he responded. "For heaven's sake tell me what you mean!"

"You know I can't tell you. Can you say--can you put your hand on your
heart and say that--you--say you never meant--that you meant me--all
along?"

"Yes!--yes! Who else? I came here to see your father, and to tell him
that I wished to tell you this--to ask him----But what does it matter?
You must have known it--you must have seen--and it's for you to answer
me. I've been abrupt, I know, and I've startled you