g him to the block in a
week," declared the Baron vigorously.

They pursued the subject in lighter vein a few minutes longer, then the
Baron rose. Judge Claiborne summoned the waiting carriage from the
stable, and the Baron drove home.

"I ought to work for an hour on that Danish claims matter," remarked the
Judge, glancing toward his curtained den.

"You will do nothing of the kind! Night work is not permitted in the
valley."

"Thank you! I hoped you would say that, Shirley. I believe I am tired;
and now if you will find a magazine for me, I'll go to bed. Ring for
Thomas to close the house."

"I have a few notes to write; they'll take only a minute, and I'll write
them here."

She heard her father's door close, listened to be quite sure that the
house was quiet, and threw back the curtains. Armitage stepped out into
the library.

"You must go--you must go!" she whispered with deep tensity.

"Yes; I must go. You have been kind--you are most generous--"

But she went before him to the hall, waited, listened, for one instant;
then threw open the outer door and bade him go. The rain dripped heavily
from the eaves, and the cool breath of the freshened air was sweet and
stimulating. She was immensely relieved to have him out of the house, but
he lingered on the veranda, staring helplessly about.

"I shall go home," he said, but so unsteadily that she looked at him
quickly. He carried the cloak flung over his shoulder and in readjusting
it dropped it to the floor, and she saw in the light of the door lamps
that his arm hung limp at his side and the gray cloth of his sleeve was
heavy and dark with blood. With a quick gesture she stooped and picked up
the cloak.

"Come! Come! This is all very dreadful--you must go to a physician at
once."

"My man and horse are waiting for me; the injury is nothing." But she
threw the cloak over his shoulders and led the way, across the veranda,
and out upon the walk.

"I do not need the doctor--not now. My man will care for me."

He started through the dark toward the outer wall, as though confused,
and she went before him toward the side entrance. He was aware of her
quick light step, of the soft rustle of her skirts, of a wish to send her
back, which his tongue could not voice; but he knew that it was sweet to
follow her leading. At the gate he took his bearings with a new assurance
and strength.

"It seems that I always appear to you in some miserable fashion--it is
pr