, but she stood back from him, and
looked straight at him with sharp questioning in her eyes.

"Do you mean--" she began; then stopped, and questioned him with her
eyes again. She was seized with the belief, which filled her at once
with agony and an impulse of fierce protection like that of a mother
defending her young with her own wounded bosom, that Burr had had a
falling out with Dorothy.

"Oh, Madelon!" Burr said again, and then he could say no more for
very shame and honor. He had run out, indeed, in a half-frenzy.

"She _shall_ not play you false!" Madelon cried out. "Dorothy Fair
_shall_ keep her word with you."

Burr looked at her, bewildered.

"Marry her at once," Madelon cried, with a quick rush of her
words--"at once. Do you hear me, Burr Gordon? It's all the way to do
with a girl like that. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, I hear you," Burr said, slowly, as if he were stunned.

"Dorothy Fair _shall_ keep her promise to you--I will make her. She
shall marry you whenever you say. I will go this very day and see
her."

"There is no need for you to do that, Madelon. I will marry her at
once, as you advise. I think she will be willing," Burr said, slowly
and coldly. Then he left her without another word, and went up his
terraces with his back bent like an old man's. He was holding hard to
his heart the surety that Madelon no longer cared for him, for it is
scarcely within the imagination of either man or woman that one can
love and yet give away. But by the time he entered the house his
spirit had awakened within him, and he made a proud resolve that
since Madelon so advised and was herself to marry that he would marry
Dorothy Fair as soon as she should be willing.

Chapter XIX

As for Madelon, she went home with her mind diverted from her own
unhappiness by Burr's, and, in spite of his assurance, might have
gone to visit her righteous anger upon Dorothy had she not heard that
very night that Burr and Parson Fair's daughter were to be married in
a month's time.

The next day Lot sent again for her, and she obeyed, with her proud
sense of duty to her future husband, although every step she took
towards him carried her farther away. His conduct began to puzzle her
more than ever. Again he sent her to the desk drawer, and this time
for a roll of precious rose-colored satin stuff, fit for a queen's
gown; but she would have none of that either, although he pleaded
with her to take it. When she started t