ght be friends."

"Are we enemies, Mr. Wiley?" She raised her eyes to his. "I assure
you I have not given that little scene on the camino a second thought."

"Then shall we start all over?" he asked eagerly. "Since you deny me a
former one, won't you let our friendship date from this hour? I cannot
tell you how delighted I was when I learned that your relatives had
found you and that you had taken your rightful place. I knew from the
first that you were different to the rest; you were the only one I
cared to know, and you would not----"

"Play about with you?" She smiled dryly. "I don't think I have ever
learned how to play, and now I am more serious than ever. There are
responsibilities, I find, attached to my present situation of which
that other girl in Limasito never dreamed."

"Naturally," he conceded, adding quickly: "But you are fortunately not
troubled with the details of your estate, while you have two such
efficient guardians as Mr. North and your cousin."

The rising inflection in his tone seemed to demand a reply, but Willa
vouchsafed none and after a moment he went on:

"You must find the social life very engrossing. I know that I am
always glad to get back to civilization after a few months in the
wilds. I would have returned earlier in the season, but my work was
not completed."

"And is it now?" she asked with studied carelessness.

"Almost. I came to consult my partner, Harrington Chase--I believe you
know him, by the way."

"He dined here, but he said nothing about your return. My cousin was
quite agreeably surprised. She is going on to the Judsons' after the
opera, did she tell you?"

The hint was unmistakable, but he shook his head, smilingly.

"I really don't remember. I only had a moment's chat with her after
the curtain fell on the first act. I saw that you were not in the box
with them, and I went to it merely to inquire about you. You were not
in evidence when I called last evening----"

"You came to see Angie, did you not? At least, that was my impression."

"I came to see the whole family, of course, but particularly you." He
smiled constrainedly. "Your cousin is a very charming girl, and we
were great pals before I left for Mexico, but I assure you she does not
regard me with any more warmly personal interest than she grants to a
host of her other friends."

"My cousin does not discuss her affairs with me, but I have heard
rumors which led me to believe you