down a little, by myself?"

Rufus took her hand, and pressed it in silence. She looked back at him
as she opened the door of her room. "Don't distress Amelius," she said;
"I can bear anything but that."

Left alone in the library, Rufus walked restlessly to and fro, driven by
a troubled mind. "I was bound to do it," he thought; "and I ought to
be satisfied with myself. I'm not satisfied. The world is hard on
women--and the rights of property is a darned bad reason for it!"

The door from the hall was suddenly thrown open. Amelius entered the
room. He looked flushed and angry--he refused to take the hand that
Rufus offered to him.

"What's this I hear from Toff? It seems that you forced your way in when
Sally was here. There are limits to the liberties that a man may take in
his friend's house."

"That's true," said Rufus quietly. "But when a man hasn't taken
liberties, there don't seem much to be said. Sally was at the Home, when
I last saw you--and nobody told me I should find her in this room."

"You might have left the room, when you found her here. You have been
talking to her. If you have said anything about Regina--"

"I have said nothing about Miss Regina. You have a hot temper of your
own, Amelius. Wait a bit, and let it cool."

"Never mind my temper. I want to know what you have been saying to
Sally. Stop! I'll ask Sally herself." He crossed the room to the inner
door, and knocked. "Come in here, my dear; I want to speak to you."

The answer reached him faintly through the door. "I have got a bad
headache, Amelius. Please let me rest a little." He turned back to
Rufus, and lowered his voice. But his eyes flashed; he was more angry
than ever.

"You had better go," he said. "I can guess how you have been talking to
her--I know what her headache means. Any man who distresses that dear
little affectionate creature is a man whom I hold as my enemy. I spit
upon all the worldly considerations which pass muster with people like
you! No sweeter girl than poor Sally ever breathed the breath of life.
Her happiness is more precious to me than words can say. She is sacred
to me! And I have just proved it--I have just come from a good woman,
who will teach her an honest way of earning her bread. Not a breath of
scandal shall blow on her. If you, or any people like you, think I will
consent to cast her adrift on the world, or consign her to a prison
under the name of a Home, you little know my nature and my princip