of you, you know it. But this I say now: if I were
a hundred times promised, I would break that promise after such insult
as you have all offered me this evening. Let me go!'

"What Charlie Darling suffered all through the interview had been patent
to each of us. When she delivered his sentence in tones so determined, a
cry that was a groan escaped his colorless lips. To say that _I_ did not
writhe under her just scorn would be false. Tears, few, but hot and
bitter, blinded my eyes. She took no further notice of any of us, but
sat waiting for her release.

"'You knew by this time,' I said, 'that you had been deceived.'

"I felt by this time that I had been a fool--a poor, coarse fool; there
had been treachery somewhere, and that all together we were a villainous
lot. I was only hesitating about how to get out of the scrape decently,
when Darling spoke in a voice that was hardly recognizable:

"'Teresa, we _were_ engaged; I told these others so before; but they
would not believe me. On the contrary, each one claims to have received
such encouragement from you as to entitle him to be considered your
favored lover. Hard as it was for me to believe such falsehood possible
to you, two of these claimants insisted upon their rights against mine,
and they overruled my judgment and wishes to such a degree that I
consented to this trial for you. It has resulted in nothing except shame
to us and annoyance to you! I beg your pardon. More I will not say
to-night.'

"Then she rose up and faced us all again with burning cheeks and
flashing eyes. 'If any other man says I have given him a promise, or
anything amounting to a promise, he lies. To Tom Allen I have always
been friendly, and have romped with him at our little parties; but
to-night he grossly insulted me, and I will never speak to him again. As
to Harry King, I was friendly with him, too, until about a fortnight ago
he presumed to kiss me rudely, in spite of resistance, since which time
I have barely recognized him. If Mr. Kittredge says I have made him any
promises, he is unworthy of the great respect I have always had for
him;' and with that last word she broke down, and sobbed as if her heart
would break. But it was only for a few minutes that she cried--she was
herself again before we had recovered our composure.

"'What was it Tom Allen said to you?' asked Charlie, when her tears were
dried.

"'He said _he_ would have me, if the rest did cast me off. Thank you,'