g
was, he could see the bright little face before him convulsed with
anger, and that her eyes literally flashed.

"Edie!" he whispered, "how can you be so foolish! I tell you I will
answer for Myra's safety there with my life if you like."

"Myra!" she said in an angry whisper; "do you think I was considering
her? I--oh, it is too much. How could I be so mad and stupid as to--as
to--come!"

Guest gazed at her wonderingly. At first he merely attributed her
actions to her anxiety on her cousin's behalf, but her words
contradicted that; and, utterly astounded, he stammered out:

"Edie--speak to me--have I offended you? What have I done?"

"Oh, nothing. It is I who have been foolish," she said hysterically.
"Girls are so silly sometimes."

"Then there is something," he said eagerly. "I have offended you.
Edie, dear, pray tell me."

He took hold of her unwilling hand and, in spite of her effort, drew it
through his arm, and led her toward the short passage in which
Brettison's door was placed.

"You don't answer me," he whispered as they reached the spot where she
and her cousin had waited only a short time before, and his love for her
speaking now warmly in the tone of his voice. "Edie, dearest, I would
suffer anything sooner than give you pain. Forgive me if I have done
anything; forgive me, too, for speaking out so plainly at a time like
this, but I do love you, darling, indeed--indeed."

As he spoke he raised her hand passionately, and yet reverently, to his
lips, and the next moment he would have pressed it warmly, but the kiss
was upon vacancy, for the hand was sharply snatched away.

"It is all false!" cried Edie in a low, angry voice. "I do not believe
a word."

"Edie!" he whispered reproachfully.

"Do you think I am blind? Do you think because I am so young that I am
a child?"

"I--I don't know what you mean," he faltered, utterly taken aback by the
silent vehemence of the passion displayed by the quivering little lady
before him.

"It is not true. You are deceiving me. You, too, whom I did think
honest and true. But you are all alike, and I _was_ mad to come--no, I
was not, for I'm very glad I did, if it was only to learn that you are
as full of duplicity as your friend."

"Am I? Well, I suppose so, Edie, if you think so," he said dismally.
"But we came here to try and get out of a fog--I've got farther in. I
didn't know I was such a bad one, though, and you might be fair to me