he beautiful
lowered eyes.

Sylvia, seated at the piano, idly improvising, had unconsciously drifted
into the "Menuet d'Exaudet," and Duane's heart began to quicken as he
stood listening and looking out through the open windows at the stars.

How long he stood there he did not know; but when, at length, missing
the sound of the piano, he looked around, Sylvia was already on the
stairs, looking back at him as she moved upward.

"Good-night," she called softly; "I am very tired," and paused as he
came forward and mounted to the step below where she waited.

"Good-night, Miss Quest," he said, with that nice informality that women
always found so engaging. "If you have nothing better on hand in the
morning, let's go for a climb. I've discovered a wild-boar's nest under
the Golden Dome, and if you'd like to get a glimpse of the little,
furry, striped piglings, I think we can manage it."

She thanked him with her eyes, held out her thin, graceful hand of a
schoolgirl, then turned slowly and continued her ascent.

As he descended, Kathleen, looking up from her embroidery, made him a
sign, and he stood still.

"Where are you going?" asked Scott, as she rose and passed him.

"I'm coming back in a moment."

Scott restlessly resumed his book, raising his head from time to time as
though listening for her return, fidgeting about, now examining the
embroidery she had left on the lamp-lit table, now listlessly running
over the pages that had claimed his close attention while she had been
near him.

Across the hall, in the library, Duane stood absently twisting an
unlighted cigar, and Kathleen, her hand on his shoulder, eyes lifted in
sweet distress, was searching for words that seemed to evade her.

He cut the knot without any emotion:

"I know what you are trying to say, Kathleen. It is true that there has
been a wretched misunderstanding, but if I know Geraldine at all I know
that a mere misunderstanding will not do any permanent harm. It is
something else that--worries me."

"Oh, Duane, I know! I know! She cannot marry you--in honour--until
that--that terrible danger is eliminated. She will not, either.
But--don't give her up! Be with her--with us in this crisis--during it!
See us through it, Duane; she is well worth what she costs us both--and
costs herself."

"She must marry me now," he said. "I want to fight this thing with all
there is in me and in her, and in my love for her and hers for me. I
can't fight it