d just tell me whether you are really
persuading her to think no more about me.'

It was an alarming challenge. Emmeline's fears returned; she half
expected an outbreak of violence. The man was growing very nervous,
and his muscles showed the working of strong emotion.

'I have given her no such advice, Mr. Cobb,' she answered, with an
attempt at calm dignity. 'Miss Derrick's private affairs don't at
all concern me. In such matters as this she is really quite old
enough to judge for herself.'

'That's what _I_ should have said,' remarked Mr. Cobb sturdily. 'I
hope you'll excuse me; I don't wish to make myself offensive. After
what she said to me when we met last, I suppose most men would just
let her go her own way. But--but somehow I can't do that. The thing
is, I can't trust what she says; I don't believe she knows her own
mind. And so long as you tell me that you're not interfering--I
mean, that you don't think it right to set her against me--'

'I assure you, nothing of the kind.'

There was a brief silence, then Cobb's voice again sounded with
blunt emphasis.

'We're neither of us very good-tempered. We've known each other
about a year, and we must have quarrelled about fifty times.'

'Do you think, then,' ventured the hostess, 'that it would ever be
possible for you to live peacefully together?'

'Yes, I do,' was the robust answer. 'It would be a fight for the
upper hand, but I know who'd get it, and after that things would be
all right.'

Emmeline could not restrain a laugh, and her visitor joined in it
with a heartiness which spoke in his favour.

'I promise you, Mr. Cobb, that I will do nothing whatever against
your interests.'

'That's very kind of you, and it's all I wanted to know.'

He stood up. Emmeline, still doubtful how to behave, asked him if he
would call on another day, when Miss Derrick might be at home.

'It's only by chance I was able to get here this afternoon,' he
replied. 'I haven't much time to go running about after her, and
that's where I'm at a disadvantage. I don't know whether there's
anyone else, and I'm not asking you to tell me, if you know. Of
course I have to take my chance; but so long as you don't speak
against me--and she thinks a great deal of your advice--'

'I'm very glad to be assured of that. All I shall do, Mr. Cobb, is
to keep before her mind the duty of behaving straightforwardly.'

'That's the thing! Nobody can ask more than that.'

Emmeline hesitated