hesitated. He saw anger flashing from her dark eyes now, but he
could not believe that he had lost the power he had so lately exerted
over her, and he fancied that this resentment must be due to some whim.
"Do you forget the past, dearest?" he said coaxingly, after a moment.
"Do you forget our love of yesterday?"

"The unreasoning fancy of a moment is not love," answered Marion
coldly.

Duncan saw now that the heart which he had felt so confident of his
power to master had slipped from his grasp. Still the thought that so
emotional a nature might yet be conquered by appeal prompted him to say,
"What is the meaning of this change? Yesterday you loved me."

"That was yesterday. Much may happen in a day, Mr. Grahame."

"Yes," smiled Duncan sarcastically, drawing lines on the floor with the
toe of his boot. "In a day one may learn the fickle nature of the woman
one is foolish enough to love."

"Yes, and the character of the feeling one was foolish enough to fancy
might be love," added Marion.

"Will you not listen to me?" he answered. "Some one has been poisoning
your mind against me."

Marion felt that this distasteful interview must end. She had been the
prey of too many emotions that day to bear up much longer. She felt a
desire to fly away somewhere and escape from this man. Summoning her
courage she looked full into Duncan's face and said, in a firm voice:
"Mr. Grahame, I will not be insulted. I think there is nothing more to
be said."

The color rose to Duncan's cheeks. His pride was touched, yet deep in
his heart he could not help feeling ashamed of his own conduct. Revenge
for another woman's actions had prompted him to act the part he had
played, and there was still manhood enough in his callous heart to make
him recognize that he deserved the treatment he was receiving. But pride
prompted him to retreat boldly. "As you will, Mrs. Sanderson," he
answered, coolly returning Marion's glance. "I came at your bidding and
I leave at your command. I had been led to believe, by your actions in
the past, that I should receive a more responsive welcome, but I
acknowledge my mistake."

"We understand each other perfectly," said Marion. "Six months ago, Mr.
Grahame, you challenged me to a game of skill. I think you know the game
well enough to recognize that you have lost."

Duncan nodded assent and walked slowly toward the door. On the threshold
he turned and looked at Marion. A feeling of admiration for the woma