-between us? What interests me, appeals to
me, what is really my natural self--that only annoys you, makes
you think--"

"I've been at fault there, I own," he interrupted, soothingly, nodding
his head respectfully up and down. "To tell the truth, I've been so
immensely interested in _you_,--in Carlisle the woman,--that I haven't
seemed able to make proper allowance for your--your other interests. I
promise to turn over a new leaf there. And, on your side, I am sure, you
do realize, Carlisle--"

"Hugo," said the girl, desperately, "you don't understand me. I am
trying to say that I can't marry you. I cannot."

Then the faint hum of voices from the dining-room down the hall became
quite audible in the library. By the ebbing of color from Hugo's virile
face, Cally knew that she had penetrated his satisfaction at last; but
by the look in his eyes she learned that she had lodged no conviction
in him.

"I hesitated when you asked me in September," said she, slowly, and
trying her best to make her voice sound firm. "I should have made up my
mind sooner--I've been to blame. I'm sorry to--"

He said in a slightly hoarsened voice: "What has happened since I left
you this afternoon?"

What, indeed? Everything seemed to have happened.

"Something did happen ... But I--I don't think there's any use to talk
about it."

"Tell me what has happened. I have a right to know."

"I will, if you wish--but it won't do any good.... I went out, to my
cousins'. And at the door, as I came back, I--I met Colonel Dalhousie.
He stopped me ... expressed his opinion of me. He said things
that I--I--"

She stopped precipitately, with a break in her voice; turned from him.

"Oh!--I understand ... Poor little girl."

At the mention of the name of ill omen, Canning's strong heart had
missed a beat. He had thought the old corpse buried past exhumation; the
sudden rising of the ghost to walk had staggered for an instant even his
superb incredulities. But with that sudden tremulousness of hers, he was
himself again, or almost, with a new light upon her whole strange and
unreliable demeanor. Small wonder, after such an encounter, if she was
brought to the verge of hysteria, her feminine reason unseated, her mind
wandering mistily over the forgotten past....

He tried to take at least one hand in loving sympathy, but found that
the matter could not be arranged.

"The shock has upset you--poor darling! I understand. No wonder!..."

"No--I'm