frightened! It would be just as interesting one way
as another."

"But I want you to stay forever," I declared as we waited on the curb
for a truck to pass.

"The remark is almost impertinent," she answered, "when I've known you
only seven days."

"They've been wonderful days. It really makes no difference about
letters or your duties elsewhere. Where you go I shall certainly follow;
that's something I should like to have understood here and now."

Loitering along the beach on our way home, I was guiltily conscious that
I was making love rather ardently to a lady who had introduced herself
to me as my uncle's widow. The sensation was, on the whole, very
agreeable....

"Mr. Torrence and Mr. Raynor," Antoine announced as we were leaving the
dinner-table.

"Mr. Raynor?" asked Alice. "Who, pray, is Mr. Raynor?"

Their arrival together chilled me, a chill increased by Torrence's
frosty greeting as he gripped my hand angrily and hissed in my ear:

"You've deceived me about this whole business! I suggest that you leave
the room."

I was walking toward the door when Mrs. Farnsworth protested.

"You are not going? Alice, there is no reason why Mr. Singleton should
leave us."

"Of course he is not going," said Alice. She was established at ease in
a wicker rocker, unconcernedly plying the ostrich-plume fan.

"There may be matters----" began Torrence.

"Oh, nothing that Bob can't hear!" Alice declared.

"Very well," muttered Torrence, frowning his complete disapproval.

He fidgeted for a moment and tried to catch Raynor's eye, but Raynor's
face expressed amusement. I found myself liking Raynor very much.

"Mr. Raynor told me that he wished to speak to Mrs. Bashford privately,"
said Torrence. "If he's satisfied, I'm sure I have no objection to Mr.
Singleton's remaining. I regret that my own duty is a disagreeable one."

"Really!" murmured Alice with nicely shaded impudence.

"I am convinced, beyond any question," said Torrence sharply, "that you
are not the widow of the late Raymond B. Bashford!"

"That statement," said Alice without ceasing the languid flutter of the
fan, "is correct--quite correct."

"Certainly: it is entirely true," affirmed Mrs. Farnsworth.

"And your coming here as you did is, if you will pardon my frankness,
susceptible of very disagreeable constructions. It is my painful
duty----"

He choked upon his duty until Raynor spoke, smiling broadly.

"I find my duty really a privilege,"