to several of the old man's old sea stories, to
find Edie, upon reaching the drawing room, revive the idea as they sat
talking together in a low tone, while Myra played, and her father took
his nap.

"Don't talk about it," he said softly. "Every man makes a fool of
himself sometimes. I suppose I did then."

"There does not seem to be much foolishness in trying to serve others,"
whispered Edie.

"I say, don't," said Guest in a low tone after gazing wonderingly in his
companion's face. "You are laying a trap for me to fall into, and it's
too bad."

"No, I'm not, Percy," she replied. "I've thought a great deal since
about what you said. I was very indignant then, but now I think quite
differently."

"You do?"

"Yes. Why should we study etiquette, and be punctilious when other
people's life's happiness is concerned?"

"Well, that's what I thought, but you jumped upon me."

"I didn't, sir. I only said--"

"Enough to make me miserable for days. That's all."

"Please forgive me, Percy."

"Jump on me again, Edie," he whispered passionately--"ten times, a
hundred times as hard, so as to ask forgiveness again like that."

"If you are so stupid, I will not say another word."

"Mute as a fish."

"Can't you understand how wretched it must make Myra feel to see other
people happy?"

"Then you are happy, little one?"

"No, and I never shall be while matters are like this. Hush, speak low,
and as if we were talking about pictures and Monday Pops. Now tell me,
how does Malcolm seem?"

"More mad and wretched than ever."

"And you can't win his confidence at all?"

"Not a bit. I go and see him every day, generally at that place of his
in Sarum Street, though I sometimes catch him at the inn, for he has a
habit of going there at a certain time, and I found it out."

"Well?"

"He insults me, bullies me, threatens me, says everything he can think
of to break with me; but I go all the same."

"That's right. I like men to be faithful to their friends."

"Hah!" Guest gave vent to a sigh of satisfaction.

"But you can't get him to confide in you?"

"No."

"You must be very stupid."

"That's it."

"I am sure I could get him to confide in me."

"You? Why, you'd win the confidence of a Memnon."

"Don't be silly. But tell me, Percy--do you think, now, that Malcolm
Stratton has been very wicked? I mean, do you think he has married
anyone else?"

"No," said Guest flatly, "I feel sure he hasn'