I went away to his mother's room, and left him to free
himself from Miss Eaton the best way he could."

CHAPTER LI.

CONTINUED MISUNDERSTANDING.

"Mrs. Harrington was lying on her sofa when I entered. She looked up and
smiled cheerfully, but I could see that she had been crying.

"'I sent for you, dear, because James wanted to go out for a while,' she
said. 'Some way I don't just like being left alone--you don't mind
sitting with me?'

"'You know I like it, Mrs. Harrington.'

"'You're a dear, good girl, Mabel! I never can be grateful enough to you
for all your kindness and patience with me.'

"I kissed her forehead but did not answer.

"'Toward evening we'll go out to drive,' she said, 'and take that little
Lucy with us.'

"'Yes; Mr. Harrington gave her your invitation. Shall I go on with our
book now?'

"'Oh yes, do; I am wonderfully interested in it.'

"I had left the novel in the _salon_, and went back to get it. As I
opened the door, James was pacing up and down the room, and the face he
turned toward me was pale and troubled.

"'I came for my book,' I said, and began searching for it among the
volumes on the table.

"'Can I help you?'

"'Thanks--no--here it is.'

"How different it all was from the days--so far off and faded they
seemed now--when we had conversed like friends, with neither restraints
or concealment between us!

"Now he was reserved--distant, and I could feel that my manner was
absolutely cold and haughty. I had reached the door when he came
hurriedly toward me, saying--

"'Miss Crawford!'

"I stopped.

"'What is it, Mr. Harrington?'

"I knew my voice sounded icy--he looked at me, and the odd, troubled
look came over his face again.

"'I only wished to ask if you were going to my mother,' he said in a
hesitating, embarrassed way, very unusual with him.

"It was not true; he had meant to speak of something entirely different.
I have wondered since if my frigid manner and lack of sympathy prevented
him. Yet what could he have said--there was no possibility of his
bringing even the slightest allusion to his trouble before me.

"'Certainly I am,' I said.

"'I have to go out,' he continued; 'I will be back by the time you wish
to drive.'

"'Very well; but I assure you as far as I am concerned, I have no fear
that the coachman cannot manage the horses without difficulty.'

"He colored slightly--offended, I suppose, by my tone and my
indifference.

"'My mother