d, when he and I go abroad, we will go alone. No offence meant; but two
is company, while three is a crowd. So good-night to you both," and she
turned and ran up the stairs, leaving Hugh looking after her with a beating
heart.

"Well, I hope I have been plain enough this time," was her inward comment.
"Can he really care for Gussie and expect to marry her, as she thinks, or
does he want to turn Mormon and marry the both of us? But whatever he has
said to Gussie don't count, so long as he makes eyes at me. I'm willing to
be pleasant and agreeable, if he is to be my brother-in-law; but he shall
not call me 'his darling' and 'his love,' as if it were me he was engaged
to. I wish I had slapped his face for him."

But, figuratively speaking, she had just done so, and if she had seen the
grieved look on Hugh's face as he groped his way out the front door, she
would have realized that her slap had struck home.

Gussie felt indignant, as she stood in the hall recalling the scene just
passed. Hugh had left her without a word, but she could plainly see that
the blame was not on Dexie's shoulders this time.

"I do believe he cares for Dexie, after all; what else could his words
imply? But she does not care for him, that is plain; and it will be a
strange thing if I cannot arrange matters so that he cannot help but offer
himself. After what he said to papa, I know he wants to marry one of us,
and I will see that it shall be myself."

The next day Dexie had a long talk with her father. She had called him
aside to give him the letter she had copied from the one in Plaisted's
handwriting, and when she had explained the circumstances Mr. Sherwood was
much astonished, and praised her for her thoughtfulness in securing an
exact copy.

"I will write to the parties in question and forbid the payment of any
money to him, but I will say nothing to Plaisted about the matter at
present. I will keep a sharp lookout, and directly he tries to put his
plans into execution I will bring him up short. Thank you, my little woman,
you have done a lucky stroke of business for me; but stay a minute," as
Dexie rose to leave the room, "I want to ask you something. How much do you
care for Hugh McNeil?" said he, as she came over to his side.

"Why, papa, what makes you ask such a question? Didn't you make a mistake
in the name?" she said, archly. "Didn't you mean to say--Lancy Gurney?"

"No; I have a guess that way. But how about Hugh? Come, I have a