t more! I'm married to a man who knows that nothing
can explain conduct but conduct. That's the kind of explanation you
still owe me, Pop, till you pay it to John March."

"Well, then," he replied with new warmth, "I'll owe it a long time. If
he ever again shows his carelessness of conventional----"

Fannie laid a pale hand on her father's arm. "It wasn't his. He showed
carefulness enough; I overruled it. It was his duty to come, Pop; and I
had let him neglect duty for me long enough."

The General started. "Why, Fan." But when he looked into her sad eyes
his soul melted. She smiled with her face close to his.

"Pop, you never meddled in my affairs before. Don't you reckon I'll
manage this one all right."

"Why, yes, Fan. I was only anxious about you because----"

"Never mind your becauses, dear. Just say you'll make it all right with
John."

"Go to bed, Fannie; go to bed; John and I will take care of ourselves."

When the General reached his office the next day the forenoon was well
advanced. He was still there when at midday John March entered.

"John, howdy? Have a chair."

"Thank you, sir." But the young man continued to stand.

"Oh, take a seat, John; you can get up again if what I say doesn't suit
you."

The speaker came from his desk, took a chair and pushed another to his
visitor.

"John, I had a short talk with Fannie last night, and a long one again
this morning. If my manner to you last evening impugned your motives, I
owe you an apology."

"That's all I want to hear, General," said John, accepting the old
soldier's hand.

"Yes, my boy; but it's not all I want to say. Fannie tells me you've
been taking some business risks, so to speak, for her sake." John
scowled. "Now, John, when she asked you to come home on her train she
knew that was to her a social risk, and she took it for your sake in
return. Not improper? I don't say it was. It was worse than improper,
John; it was romantic! The gay half of Suez will never forget it, and
the grim half will never forgive it! Oh, it was quite proper and
praiseworthy if Pussie and Susie would just not misconstrue it, as they
certainly will. Only a few months ago, you know, you were making it
almost public that you would still maintain your highly poetical line of
conduct and sentiment toward Fan after she should be married."

"General Halliday, I----"

"Let me finish, John. We didn't run you out of town, did we?"

March smiled a strong sarcasm and