a marked change come over the
girl's face. All the laughing gaiety of a moment back was gone, and an
expression of anxiety had taken its place.

"You are not ill?" asked he, eagerly.

"No. Why do you ask me?"

"I was afraid--I fancied you looked paler. You seem changed."

"So I am," said she, seriously. "Answer me what I shall ask, but tell me
frankly."

"That I will; what is it?"

"You and Loyd have quarrelled--what was it about?"

"What a notion! Do you imagine that the silly quizzing that passes,
between young men implies a quarrel?"

"No matter what I fancy; tell me as candidly as you said you would. What
was the subject of your disagreement?"

"How peremptory you are," said he laughing. "Are you aware that to give
your orders in this fashion implies one of two things--a strong interest
in me, or in my adversary?"

"Well, I accept the charge; now for the confession."

"Am I right, then, dearest Florence?" said he, ceasing to row, and
leaning down to look the nearer at her. "Am I right, then, that your
claim to this knowledge is the best and most indisputable?"

"Tell me what it is!" said she, and her pale face suddenly glowed with a
deep flush.

"You guessed aright, Florence, we did quarrel; that is, we exchanged
very angry words, though it is not very easy to say how the difference
began, nor how far it went I was dissatisfied with him. I attributed to
his influence, in some shape or other, that I stood less well here--in
_your_ esteem, I mean--than formerly; and he somewhat cavalierly told
me if there were a change I owed it to myself, that I took airs upon me,
that I was haughty, presuming, and fifty other things of the same sort;
and so, with an interchange of such courtesies, we grew at last to feel
very warm, and finally reached that point where men--of the world, at
least--understand discussion ceases, and something else succeeds."

"Well, go on," cried she, eagerly.

"All is told; there is no more to say. The lawyer did not see the thing,
perhaps, in the same vulgar light that I did; he took his hat, and came
over here. I followed him, and there's the whole of it."

"I think he was wrong to comment upon your manner, if not done from a
sense of friendship, and led on to it by some admission on your part."

"Of course he was; and I am charmed to hear you say so."

She was silent for some time, leaning her head on her hand, and
appearing deep in thought.

"Now that I have made _my_ conf