whom she's about to throw herself away."

"How dare you, sir!"

"Because you've just told me. I'm only quoting your words."

As Mrs. Primrose left in speechless anger, Nan quietly entered the
room. Her face was set for battle in a proud defiant smile. She was
totally unprepared for the way in which Stuart met her.

With a quick step he was at her side, seized both her hands in a grip
of fierce tenderness and in low tones of vibrant passion said:

"This thing don't go with me, Nan. I won't accept it. I'm going to
fight--fight for my own--for you are mine--mine by every law of God and
man, and you are worth fighting for!"

The hard smile of defiance melted from the beautiful face, and a flush
of tenderness slowly overspread her cheeks. It was sweet to be loved
like that by a strong masterful man. One of the things that had stung
her pride deepest during the past weeks was the thought that after all
he didn't seem to care. Now that she knew how deeply he cared, her
heart went out to him in instinctive tender response.

"I suppose, then," she began slowly, "I've nothing to do but agree to
your plan of action?"

"That's it exactly," he replied firmly. "How could I dream that you
would regard our quarrel so seriously----"

She started to speak, and he raised his hand:

"I know, dear, you said our engagement was broken. I didn't believe you
meant it. I couldn't. I was hurt when you returned my note unopened,
but I watched and waited every hour of every day for a word. The news
of your engagement to Bivens came as a bolt out of the blue sky. I
refuse to accept such an act as final. You did it out of pique. You
don't mean it. You can't mean it!"

"And what are your plans?"

"I told you the other day I had a surprise for you--I have. It's worth
a day--you promised me one in the country before our foolish quarrel. I
want it now. You will come?"

She hesitated a moment and said:

"Yes."

Within an hour they had reached the hills overlooking Gravesend Bay,
and the magnificent sweep of water below the Narrows. Nan had scarcely
spoken on the way, answering Stuart's questions in friendly nods,
smiles, and monosyllables.

"Before we go farther," Stuart said when they had left the car, "I want
to show you a model home a friend of mine has built out here. It's my
ideal, and I think you'll like it."

Nan nodded and followed his long strides along the narrow path of a
single flagstone pavement to the crest of the hill