, she allowed a sudden note of hostility to creep into her voice,
and it cut Thayer like the edge of a steel knife.

"I am sorry," he said, after a pause; "but it is too late for that now,
Miss Gannion."

His words were more true than he realized. When, after a half-hour of
uncomfortable, disjointed talk, he said good-night and went away, he
found Lorimer waiting for him in his own rooms. Thayer's greeting was
curt, for he was still smarting from the memory of his talk with Miss
Gannion. He had been impenetrable to her questions, but not to her
sharpness, and he was hurt by the disapproval she had shown. It was the
first time he had heard the curious icy tone in her voice; it had struck
a jarring note in their friendship. For the time being, Miss Gannion had
distrusted him; but at least she had gained no idea of the cause of his
changed attitude. For so much, he was thankful. He had saved his own
respect at the risk of forfeiting that of Miss Gannion.

Lorimer met him excitedly; but Thayer's experienced eye saw that the
excitement had no alcoholic basis.

"Congratulations, old fellow! Everything is settled at last, and we are
to be married, early in January. I came straight to you, for I knew you
would be delighted. Of course, I shall count on you as best man."

It would never have occurred to Thayer that there was need to brace
himself against any possible shock. For a minute, the droplight on the
table seemed to be dancing a Russian _trepac_. Then, just as it was
ready to fall, he heard his own voice saying, with exactly the proper
degree of cordiality,--

"I do congratulate you, Lorimer, and I am delighted that it is settled."

Later on, he knew that he had spoken the truth.

"And you will be best man?" Lorimer questioned eagerly.

"Yes. Who else has better claim?" The conventional note was still there;
Thayer felt its aloofness far more than Lorimer, absorbed in his own
joy, was able to do. The silence was short; then Thayer mastered himself
again. "Lorimer," he said quietly; "I certainly do congratulate you, for
you have been able to gain one of the noblest women in the world. Your
happiness ought to be great; but you have taken a fearful responsibility
along with it. At your best you can be worthy of her; but, if you fall
one inch below your best level, you will deserve to be flayed alive. You
have gone into this with your eyes open. You know that you can make
Beatrix Dane's life a heaven or a hell. You a