f worldliness. "The papers came on the train with you, so we
haven't had the verdict, yet."

And then while Stuart was answering Conscience enjoined him that, if
they were to swim before lunch, time was scant and these amenities must
wait.

"Aren't you going in?" demanded the visitor and the host shook his head
with an indulgent smile.

"No," he answered. "That's for you youngsters. I may drop down to the
float later, but, barring accident, I stay out of salt water."

CHAPTER XXIII

Less in words than by a subtle though unmistakable manner, the husband
made it clear to Stuart Farquaharson that his status in this
establishment was to be as intimately free as if he had been the brother
instead of the former lover of Conscience. It was difficult to reconcile
this unqualified acceptance with every impression he had formed of Eben,
and while he unpacked his bag in his bedroom a sense of perplexity
lingered with him. But as he was changing into his bathing suit a
solution presented itself which seemed to bear the stamp of four-square
logic.

Eben Tollman was neither the ogre he had formerly seemed nor yet the
utterly careless husband that his present conduct appeared to indicate.
He had simply recognized in the days of Stuart's ascendancy something
akin to disdain in the Virginian's attitude toward him. Now time had
demonstrated which was the victor, and Tollman was permitting his pride
the pardonable gratification of showing the younger man its security and
confidence.

Conscience had not yet appeared when Stuart came down, and neither was
Eben in evidence, so the visitor stood in the open door with the summer
breeze striking gratefully against his bare arms and legs until he heard
a laugh at the stair-head and wheeled to look quickly up. The picture he
saw there made his heart beat fast and brought a sudden fire into his
eyes.

Conscience stood above him with her arms lifted in an attitude of one
about to dive and in the gay colors of her bathing dress and cap; in the
untrammeled grace of slender curves she seemed the spirit of vivid
allurement. With an answering laugh the man stepped to the lower
landing and raised his own arms.

"Come on!" he challenged. "Jump, I'll catch you."

But as suddenly as though he had been struck, he dropped his arms at his
sides, realizing the wild, almost ungovernable impulse which had swept
him to take her in his arms in contempt of every consideration except
the violenc