I had feared it would come to this, and since Harry
was determined to ease his mind to his cousin, it was better that none but
Holt's ears should burn with what he had to hear. I was not ignorant of
the talk that was going on; and perhaps it was better that Jack should
know a little of the weakness that lessened his darling in the eyes of
men. But I had not left them ten minutes before Jack opened the door of my
room and called me back. The sound of his voice startled me, and the sight
of his stern, cold face awed me somewhat, as it had awed Harry, who looked
at me uneasily as I came in. We all three stood regarding each other a
moment in silence, then Dart withdrew to the window and leaned against it,
his arms folded and his eyes downcast.

"You heard the first of Harry's allegations against Miss Lenox," said
Holt, breaking the pause: "he has followed them up with accusations more
definite.--Harry, repeat what you just told me."

Harry seemed quite crestfallen, "D----the business!" he muttered doggedly:
"it's none of my affair."

"But you seem to have made it your affair," pursued Holt with calmness. "I
request you to repeat to Floyd what you said to me concerning him."

"I said," exclaimed Harry recklessly, "that I knew Miss Lenox to be very
generous with certain favors which as a rule are reserved by
discriminating young ladies for their engaged lovers."

"Go on: I do not call that a definite accusation."

"I said," pursued Harry with a peculiar glance at me, "that I knew fellows
who had kissed her. Jack is bent on knowing the name of one of these
fellows, and I mentioned yours."

I felt my face flame, and in spite of myself my eyes fell.

"Tell me the truth, Floyd," said Jack gently. "Have you come between
Georgy and me as a lover of hers, winning away her regard for me?"

"Good Heavens!" I exclaimed, "no, no, no! I never kissed Georgy but once,
and then I lay an almost hopeless cripple in my chair at Belfield, and she
kissed me as she would have kissed any other sick, miserable boy."

Jack laughed, and his face cleared. "Oh, Harry," said he, "you foolish
fellow! to talk such nonsense!--I beg your pardon, Floyd, for seeming to
believe for a moment that you were not an honest friend of mine." We shook
hands.--"Come here, Harry," he went on with perfect good-nature: "I
promise to forgive and forget this talk of yours on condition that you do
not meddle in future between Georgy and me. You never liked her--yo