as she said those words. Before Percy could
think of another excuse, her quick observation detected the disordered
condition of his cravat, and discovered the upper edge of a black
plaster attached to one side of his neck.

"You have been hurt in the neck!" she said. "That is why you have kept
away from us for the last three days!"

"A mere trifle," he answered, in great confusion; "please don't notice
it."

Her eyes, still resting on his face, assumed an expression of suspicious
inquiry, which Percy was entirely at a loss to understand. Suddenly, she
started to her feet, as if a new idea had occurred to her. "Wait here,"
she said, flushing with excitement, "till I come back: I insist on it!"

Before Percy could ask for an explanation she had left the conservatory.

In a minute or two, Miss Bowmore returned, with a newspaper in her hand.
"Read that," she said, pointing to a paragraph distinguished by a line
drawn round it in ink.

The passage that she indicated contained an account of a duel which had
recently taken place in the neighborhood of London. The names of the
duelists were not mentioned. One was described as an officer, and the
other as a civilian. They had quarreled at cards, and had fought
with pistols. The civilian had had a narrow escape of his life. His
antagonist's bullet had passed near enough to the side of his neck
to tear the flesh, and had missed the vital parts, literally, by a
hair's-breadth.

Charlotte's eyes, riveted on Percy, detected a sudden change of color in
his face the moment he looked at the newspaper. That was enough for her.
"You _are_ the man!" she cried. "Oh, for shame, for shame! To risk your
life for a paltry dispute about cards!"

"I would risk it again," said Percy, "to hear you speak as if you set
some value on it."

She looked away from him without a word of reply. Her mind seemed to
be busy again with its own thoughts. Did she meditate returning to the
subject of the duel? Was she not satisfied with the discovery which she
had just made?

No such doubts as these troubled the mind of Percy Linwood. Intoxicated
by the charm of her presence, emboldened by her innocent betrayal of
the interest that she felt in him, he opened his whole heart to her
as unreservedly as if they had known each other from the days of their
childhood. There was but one excuse for him. Charlotte was his first
love.

"You don't know how completely you have become a part of my life, since
we