th a flash in her eyes.

"People are so ready to believe the worst! He did nothing that he need
blush for--that's impossible!" Then she saw the trap into which her
generous indignation had led her, but instead of looking down in
confusion she boldly faced Mrs. Keith. "Yes," she added, "if he wanted
me, I would marry him in spite of what people are foolish enough to
think."

"And you would not regret it." Mrs. Keith laid her hand on the girl's
arm with a caressing touch. "My dear, if you value your happiness, you
will tell him so. Remember that he is going away in a day or two."

"How can I tell him?" Millicent cried with burning face. "I only--I
mean you tricked me into telling you."

"It shouldn't be difficult to give him a tactful hint, and that
wouldn't be a remarkably unusual course," Mrs. Keith smiled. "The idea
that a proposal comes quite spontaneously is to some extent a
convention nowadays. I don't suppose you need reminding that we dine
at Sandymere to-morrow."

Millicent made no reply; she seemed rather overwhelmed by her
employer's frankness, and Mrs. Keith took pity on her and let her go,
with a final bit of advice:

"Think over what I told you!"

Millicent thought of nothing else. She knew that Blake loved her and
she believed that she understood why he had not declared himself. Now
he might go away without speaking. It was hateful to feel that she
must make the first advances and reveal her tenderness for him. She
felt that she could not do so; and, yet, the alternative seemed worse.

CHAPTER XXV

LOVE AND VICTORY

Millicent accompanied Mrs. Keith to Sandymere in a troubled mood; and
dinner was a trying function. She sat next to Foster, and she found it
hard to smile at his jokes; and she noticed that Blake was unusually
quiet. It was his last evening in England.

When they went into the drawing-room Challoner sat talking with her for
a while, and then she was asked to sing. An hour passed before Blake
had an opportunity for exchanging a word with her.

"They'll make you sing again if you stay here," he said softly.

She understood that he wanted her to himself, and she thrilled at
something in his voice.

"You're interested in Eastern brasswork, I think?" he went on.

"I hardly know," said Millicent. "I haven't seen much of it."

She was vexed with herself for her prudish weakness. An opportunity
that might never be repeated was offered her, and she could not mu