n.
Persevere."

"I will," he said, catching her enthusiasm.

"Don't let him drive you away."

"Indeed I will not," cried Guest, "only you might let me hold your
hands."

"Stuff; they are quite safe."

"For me?" he whispered passionately.

"Percy Guest, do you know the meaning of the word _taboo_? Yes, I see
you do by your sour look."

"Not sour, Edie--disappointed."

"Because you are selfish, sir. All we have to do in this life is to
study others."

"Oh! Is it?" he protested.

"Yes, and I now vow, swear, and declare that I will never even think of
being happy myself till I can see Myra herself again; so now you know
what to expect."

"Oh, very well," he said with a dissatisfied look. "But look here,
Edie, if I don't turn up some day you'll know what it means."

"That you will be found at your chambers with a pistol in your hand?"
said Edie contemptuously.

"Do you think I should be such an idiot?" he cried indignantly.

The look she gave him made peace, and at last Guest rose to go, looking
very thoughtful.

"Yes!" cried Edie, watching him merrily.

"I didn't know I spoke," he said, "but I was thinking that the way to
put matters straight again would be to bring them together somehow."

"Oh, indeed!" said Edie sarcastically; but Guest was too intent upon his
thoughts to notice her manner, and he went on dreamily:

"Of course, Stratton could not come here now."

"I should not advise him to do so while uncle's about."

"No, of course not," continued Guest. "But I was thinking whether it
would be possible for Myra to go, of course with you, and--perhaps I
could arrange it--catch him at his chambers. He would explain
everything to her, I'm sure, and you see perhaps after all it may not be
so bad."

"Oh, no, perhaps not," said Edie, with a sneering intonation which
escaped Guest in his infatuation over his new idea for serving two
people whom he esteemed. Then, unable to control herself, she burst out
with: "Oh, how can people be so stupid? As if it were possible that
Myra could ever speak to such a man again."

It gradually dawned upon Guest that he had made a terrible blunder, and
he went back to his chambers snubbed and fully determined never more to
risk his position with Edie by trying to fight his friend's battle and
piece together the broken fibres of the suddenly disruptured skein.

He was no little surprised, then, some weeks later, after dining at the
admiral's and listening