that it's not right, that it's
preposterous, that you yourself will say so to-morrow!..."

She made no reply, and then Canning, goaded on by his sense of strange
impotence, spoke the depths of his secret resentment:

"Really, I should have thought that the views of your future husband
would have more weight with you than those of a casual medical
missionary, known to be irresponsible and untrustworthy."

Cally gave him a look full of young reproach, rose with nervous
purposelessness, and went over to the empty hearthside. Much nearer now
peeped that startling shape. She leaned upon the mantel and tried to
think: of her duty to Hugo, of how natural it was that he shouldn't
understand, of how all this had begun. But unhappily the tone of his
last remark seemed to have set other chords quivering within her, and
all that she seemed able to think of was that it was cruelly unjust for
him to misjudge her so. He had promised to stand by her no matter what
happened, and besides Dr. Vivian wasn't irresponsible and untrustworthy.
The wild thought knocked that Hugo, now that he knew the truth about
her, had ceased to love her....

"Carlisle," said Canning, with more restraint, "isn't it reasonable for
me to think that?"

Her reply showed some signs of agitation: "Why, Hugo--of course ... You
must know your views have all the weight in the world with me. His
have none ..."

He came up to her on the hearthstone, raised her hand, and kissed the
little pink palm.

"Never mind--I'm sure that's true.... Now, my dear, we seem unable to
understand each other to-day, and trying to do so only throws us farther
and farther apart. We both need rest, and time for quiet thought. You
must let me decide this point for you. I am going to send word to Dr.
Vivian now that you will let him hear from you to-morrow morning."

He released her hand, and turned decisively away. At that moment, the
dim hall chimes began to strike six.

"Oh, no, Hugo! Please don't," she broke out, taking a little step after
him.... "_Please!_ I don't think I could bear it...."

Canning wheeled instantly, his virile face darkening and flushing.

"You don't?... My views don't seem to matter so tremendously, after
all!"

"Ah, Hugo dear! That hurts. How--"

"Tell me, Carlisle, did the idea of telling Colonel Dalhousie, for your
happiness, originate with you or with this man?"

Touched once more in her spirit by his singular obsession, she replied,
with constr