ed at him, and then started to withdraw on tiptoe.

And he raised his head; and she gazed into the face of Berkley.

Neither stirred, although in the shock of discovery she felt that
she would drop where she stood. Then, instinctively, she reached
for the table's edge, rested against it, hand clutching it,
fascinated eyes never leaving his face.

He got up leisurely, walked toward her, made an abrupt turn and
faced her again from the window recess, leaning back against the
closed wooden shutters.

Her heart was beating too rapidly for her to speak; she tried to
straighten her shoulders, lift her head. Both sank, and she looked
down blindly through the throbbing silence.

Berkley spoke first; but she could not answer him. Then he said,
again, lightly:

"A woman's contempt is a bitter thing; but they say we thrive best
on bitter medicine. Do you wish me to go, Ailsa? If so, where?
I'll obey with alacrity."

She raised her dazed eyes.

"W-was that _you_, with Captain Hallam's horse--there in the
starlight--when I spoke?"

"Yes. Didn't you know me?"

"No. Did you know _me_?"

"Of course. I nearly fell out of my saddle."

She strove hard to collect herself.

"How did you know it was I?"

"How?" He laughed a short, mirthless laugh. "I knew your voice.
Why shouldn't I know it?"

"Did--had anybody told you I was here?"

"No. Who is there to tell me anything?"

"Nobody wrote you?--or telegraphed?"

He laughed again. "Nobody has my address."

"And you never--received--receive--letters?"

"Who would write to me? No, I never receive letters. Why do you
ask?"

She was silent.

He waited a moment, then said coolly: "If you actually have any
interest in what I'm doing--" and broke off with a shrug. At which
she raised her eyes, waiting for him to go on.

"I went into an unattached company--The Westchester Horse--and some
fool promised us incorporation with the 1st Cavalry and quick
service. But the 1st filled up without us and went off. And a
week ago we were sent off from White Plains Camp as K Company
to"--he bit his lip and stared at her--"to--your friend Colonel
Arran's regiment of lancers. We took the oath. Our captain,
Hallam, selected me for his escort to-night. That is the simple
solution of my being here. I didn't sneak down here to annoy you.
I didn't know you were here."

After a moment she raised her pallid face.

"Have you seen Colonel Arran?"

"No," he said short