here, Paul wants you to explain," begged Mr. Dalken, beside
himself.

Her first surprise at finding Paul Stewart in New York _and in the
house_, passed over and Eleanor forgot Jack and everything else, as she
rushed forward to welcome her old sweetheart.

"Paul--Oh Paul! When did _you_ come?" cried she.

But Paul's haughty stare stopped her when she was not ten inches from
him. He turned to Mr. Dalken and said: "Now that you've broken your word
with me, you had best explain."

"_I_ broken my word! I never gave my word to anything that is broken.
Remember, Paul, you may be a hot-headed impulsive youth, but you cannot
make such sweeping accusations without grounds for them. I am so sorry
for you in your disappointment that I will excuse you this time, however,
and explain for your benefit, that I caught hold of Jack and Nolla after
you left and dragged them down here without 'breaking my word' as you
claim, or any other unhonorable deed. Unless you consider getting at the
truth is unprincipled." Mr. Dalken was stern and dignified in his
self-justification, and Paul had the grace to flush uncomfortably.

Eleanor was standing, uncertain of what was best to do in this strange
meeting. She had felt over-joyed a moment before, to find Paul there, but
now she wondered why he was so angry, and why he had not waited to greet
her, as long as he had been up in the apartment. Baxter, not feeling at
home in this group, turned and asked the man to take him up again.

Mr. Dalken had not seen Jack leave again, so he turned to call him, but
found he had disappeared.

"Nolla, what did you say to Paul when he met you?" demanded the older
man.

"I? Why, Mr. Dalken, I never knew Paul was here. The first hint I had of
something unusual was when you rushed in to drag us downstairs."

Mr. Dalken was puzzled so he turned to Paul. "Then why did you say Nolla
was a flirt and had made a fool of you? I thought she met you and began
to tease, as she does everyone."

"There was no need of her saying anything to me, as I heard her tell,
when she was not aware of my standing behind her chair, that the young
man she was with might prove to be the accepted love after all." Then
Paul repeated the substance of the talk he had overheard between Jack and
Eleanor.

As he concluded, Eleanor laughed hysterically and held out her hands to
Mr. Dalken beseechingly. "Oh, dear Dalky! Can't you see how Paul
misunderstood everything! I was speaking of Jack