e felt that she had at last scored one
point. Oh, that she could have more time!

"Jupiter!" muttered Graydon, as he descended the stairs, "her talk
makes a fellow's blood tingle."

Miss Wildmere had just entered with Arnault, and Graydon asked, "Are
you not going to give me one dance this evening?"

"Yes, two, if you wish," she replied, sweetly.

He took her at her word, and was as devoted as ever. He had no thought
of being anything else. Arnault secured the last word, however,
and Graydon made no effort to prevent this. He had accepted the
disagreeable situation, and proposed, although with increasing
reluctance and discontent, to let the girl have a clear field and
manage the affair as she thought wise under the circumstances. He was
too proud to have maintained a jostling and open pursuit with Arnault
in any event, and now, believing that he understood the lady better,
felt that there was no occasion for it He had indicated to her just
where he stood, and just where she could ever find him. When her
diplomacy with Arnault should cease to be essential to her father's
safety, the final words could be spoken.

He acted on this policy so quietly that she was somewhat troubled, and
feared that Madge might be taking too large a place in his thoughts.
Therefore, when Arnault ventured to make a somewhat humorous reference
to the young girl's appearance, her spite found utterance. "I never
saw such a looking creature in my life. She had the appearance of a
crazy woman, with her hair dishevelled, and her wet, muddy clothes
sticking to her as if glued. She ought at least to have slipped away
when the doctor came. But instead of that she fainted--all put on, I
believe, to attract attention."

"She perhaps felt that she must put on something," chuckled Arnault.
"The two Muirs looked as if she were too precious and sacred for
mortal gaze."

"Well," concluded Miss Wildmere, "I like to see a lady who never
forgets herself;" and she was an example of the type.

"I like to see one lady, whom, having seen, no one can forget," was
his gallant reply.

CHAPTER XIX

AN OBJECT FOR SYMPATHY

Miss Wildmere's indignant virtue was not soothed on the following
morning, when, as she returned from a drive with Arnault, Graydon
galloped up on a superb bay horse, and Madge so far forgot herself
again as to rush to meet him with unaffected pleasure. The champion
of propriety paused in the distance to take an observation, for