with himself--angry with this blunt and persistent old man. He
did not know whether resentment held him back from acknowledging that he
had been a suitor for the hand of Luke Presson's daughter or whether it
was the strange, new feeling toward Clare Kavanagh since he had learned
that her good name was in such piteous need of his protection and
defence.

"Have you asked her to marry you?" demanded the Duke.

"Yes, I have--that is--" he paused. His air irritated still more the
testy humor of the old man, plainly provoked by earlier matters.

"'That is'!" he sneered. "'I have.' 'Perhaps I have!' 'Maybe I
have--let's see what my notes say!' What in the devil is the matter with
the young men nowadays, anyway? Blood in your veins about as thick as
Porty Reek molasses! You say you have asked her to marry you? Well, if
you've asked her and mean it, have you got anything to do with that
Kavanagh girl being around this State House to-day?"

Harlan sprang to his feet. He threw the document upon the table. His
heart leaped within him. Even while his emotions bewildered him he found
himself asking his conscience why he had not searched for her in spite
of Dennis Kavanagh and her own plain desire to avoid him. The bare
knowledge that she was near sent the blood into his face. Her coming to
him seemed reproach for his acceptance of her flight.

"Do you mean that?"

"You are certainly giving me a fine imitation of a man who is
surprised," stated his grandfather. "Maybe you are! I hope so. But she's
here. She's with a bunch of girls from some school or other, paraded
around by a hatchet-faced woman--another crowing hen that's trying to
teach parliamentary law, I suppose. Harlan, I hope you've been square
with me about that girl! Now, if you're honest, and don't know she's
here, keep out of sight. I've given you the tip. She'll be speaking to
you--and it will mix matters for you. She'd like nothing better than to
do it!"

"I'm sick of that kind of talk from you," protested the grandson,
angrily. "Can't you mention the name of that innocent girl without a
slur or an insult? And there's no reason why I cannot meet Clare
Kavanagh any time and at any place."

"Your political rule of out-and-open, as you've been tutored by Vard
Waymouth, may work with men, but I'm telling you that it won't operate
with girls," replied the Duke. "You may mean all right, but I'm
suspicious of you. You sneaked back to Fort Canibas last summer to see
h