t. After a moment, therefore, she told him
why she had come; it was a nuisance, of course, but he would understand.
Ursula Gillow was jealous, and they would have to give up seeing each
other.

The young man's burst of laughter was music to her; for, after all, she
had been rather afraid that being devoted to Ursula might be as much in
his day's work as doing the encyclopaedia.

"But I give you my word it's a raving-mad mistake! And I don't believe
she ever meant me, to begin with--" he protested; but Susy, her
common-sense returning with her reassurance, promptly cut short his
denial.

"You can trust Ursula to make herself clear on such occasions. And it
doesn't make any difference what you think. All that matters is what she
believes."

"Oh, come! I've got a word to say about that too, haven't I?"

Susy looked slowly and consideringly about the room. There was nothing
in it, absolutely nothing, to show that he had ever possessed a spare
dollar--or accepted a present.

"Not as far as I'm concerned," she finally pronounced.

"How do you mean? If I'm as free as air--?"

"I'm not."

He grew thoughtful. "Oh, then, of course--. It only seems a little odd,"
he added drily, "that in that case, the protest should have come from
Mrs. Gillow."

"Instead of coming from my millionaire bridegroom, Oh, I haven't any; in
that respect I'm as free as you."

"Well, then--? Haven't we only got to stay free?"

Susy drew her brows together anxiously. It was going to be rather more
difficult than she had supposed.

"I said I was as free in that respect. I'm not going to marry--and I
don't suppose you are?"

"God, no!" he ejaculated fervently.

"But that doesn't always imply complete freedom...."

He stood just above her, leaning his elbow against the hideous black
marble arch that framed his fireless grate. As she glanced up she saw
his face harden, and the colour flew to hers.

"Was that what you came to tell me?" he asked.

"Oh, you don't understand--and I don't see why you don't, since we've
knocked about so long among exactly the same kind of people." She stood
up impulsively and laid her hand on his arm. "I do wish you'd help
me--!"

He remained motionless, letting the hand lie untouched.

"Help you to tell me that poor Ursula was a pretext, but that there IS
someone who--for one reason or another--really has a right to object to
your seeing me too often?"

Susy laughed impatiently. "You talk like the hero