gain Ben said nothing, and the conversation lapsed.

Meanwhile within doors another drama had been taking place. A very
discomposed young lady had met Scotty just out of hearing.

"What made you stop Mr. Sidwell, papa?" she asked indignantly. "Why
didn't you let him come in?"

"Because I didn't choose to," explained Scotty, bluntly.

"But I wanted him to," she said imperiously. "I don't care to see Ben
to-night."

Her father looked at her steadily. "And I wish you to see him," he
insisted. "You must be hypnotized to behave the way you're doing! You
forget yourself completely!"

The brown eyes of the girl flashed. "And you forget yourself! I'm no
longer a child! I won't see him to-night unless I wish to!"

Easy-going Scotty was aroused. His weak chin set stubbornly.

"Very well. You will see neither of them, then. I won't have a man
insulted without cause in my own house. I'll tell them both you're
sick."

"If you do," flamed Florence, "I'll never forgive you! You're--horrid,
if you are my father. I--" She took refuge in tears. "Oh, you ought to
be ashamed to treat your daughter so!"

The Englishman flicked a speck of ash off his lounging coat. "I _am_
ashamed," he admitted; "but not of what you suggest." He turned toward
the door.

"Daddy," said a pleading voice, "don't you--care for me any more?"

An expression the daughter had never seen before, but one that ever
after haunted her, flashed over the father's face.

"Care for you?" he exclaimed. "Care for you? That is just the trouble! I
care for you--have always cared for you--too much. I have sacrificed my
self-respect to humor you, and it's all been a mistake. I see it now too
late."

For a moment the two looked at each other; then the girl brushed past
him. "Very well," she said calmly, "if I must see them both, at least
permit me to see them by myself."

The men on the porch arose as Florence appeared. Their manner of doing
so was characteristic of each. Sidwell got to his feet languidly, a bit
stiffly. He had not forgotten the past week. Ben Blair arose
respectfully, almost reverently, unconscious that he was following a
mere social form. Six months had passed since he had seen this little
woman, and his soul was in his eyes as he looked at her.

Just without the door the girl halted, her color like the sunset. It was
the city man she greeted first.

"I'm very glad to see you again," she said, and a dainty hand went out
to meet his own.

Si