down to my bad manners, and
let it go.

We may never meet again intimately, and I want my last word to you
to be heartfelt thanks for giving me the happiest experience of my
life. We both know that Love will heal every hurt. I hope it isn't
wrong for me to go in this way. I cannot stay.

SYLVIA.

Edna read the letter twice before she laid it down. She caught the
reflection of her own face in the glass. More than anything else, it
expressed vexation. Sylvia had crowned her unconventional behavior by
the most annoying move of all. To a girl of Edna's traditions it was
excessively mortifying to be obliged to own to others that her friend
and guest had fled from her roof, even though they would have no
suspicion that Sylvia had been driven away. In an instant she made up
her mind not to destroy the comfort of the supper hour with the news,
but to wait until later.

Hastening out into the hall, she softly closed the door again, and
proceeded to make her own preparations for the evening meal. She could
hear Dunham moving about in his room, and knew that he was forbearing
on Sylvia's account from the whistling obligato which usually
accompanied his toilet.

It would have been difficult for any average man to express
irritability while discussing the appetizing dishes which Miss Lacey
and Jenny had placed on that supper table, but the judge was displeased
by his niece's non-appearance, and made it evident.

"I hope you're not spoiling the girl, Martha," he said. "If she's ill,
say so; but if she isn't, don't let there be any carrying up of trays
or nonsense of that kind."

Edna feared from Miss Martha's look that she was going to rise from the
table and call the absent one, and she hastily interposed:--

"I assure you, Judge Trent, Sylvia is promptness itself. This is the
exception that proves the rule."

"It seems to me that my niece is always proving rules in that fashion,"
he returned, glancing at Dunham. "Of course, you are a polite hostess,
Edna, and wouldn't allow a crumpled rose leaf to annoy a guest of
yours."

At these words Sylvia's note seemed to burn in Edna's pocket, and her
cheeks grew warm.

"The fact is, I'd like to see something of the girl," went on the
judge.

"I shall go up to her room the instant supper is over," responded Edna.
"Do have some more lobster Newburg, Judge Trent. Don't you think it's
pretty good?"

"I think it's perfect; but I'd better not tempt Fate