.'

She put up her hand, with a soft little laugh.

'I shall be sure to trip myself if I attempt a polite fib, so I will
admit that. At first, for a little time, June did feel quite haughty
when she thought of that letter and thy knowledge of it in the same
moment. But great troubles often swallow up small annoyances, thee
knows; and I can assure thee that my niece now looks upon thee as a
real friend, to be trusted, not quarrelled with; besides--for thee
must know we have talked over this very thing--she realizes that if
thee had not read that letter something unpleasant might have befallen
her, something terrible; who knows? Besides, there are all these later
happenings, all your help to be put in the balance in your favour. No,
Mr. Masters, thee has in June Jenrys a friend, who is grateful to
thee, and who believes in thee, and she is no lukewarm partisan.'

She put out her slim, white hand, ringless and soft, but firm in its
touch, and I grasped it and was silent for a moment; then, thanking
her for her kindness and confidence, I said hastily, and in momentary
expectation of seeing Miss Jenrys enter the room:

'Miss Ross, I believe you have saved me from a blunder. As you have
said, your niece is a woman, and a very clever one, and I have been
near treating her like a child.'

'A child, and how?'

'There is a word concerning that same letter we have been speaking of,
which I have been longing to speak. It should have been said before
this visit of to-day, I think; and I have near been telling it to you,
when it most concerns Miss Jenrys.'

She came closer, with a swift step.

'Does it--does it also concern--him?'

'Yes.'

'And--ah--I must ask thee if it is to his hurt?'

'It is not.'

'Then tell it to her at once, if it will make their meeting less
embarrassing to either; tell it--hush!'

Almost as she spoke the door opened and June Jenrys entered the room,
and never had she looked so charming. It was evident in every detail
of her simple toilet that she had dressed with the purpose and the
power to please and charm.

The gown was simply made, of some soft, creamy-tinted wool, that fell
in long straight folds from her silken belt, and was drawn, soft and
full, like the surplice of our grandmothers' day, about the shapely
shoulders and across the breast; and the hat was black and broad, with
curving brim and drooping plume, the same, in fact, worn by her on the
now memorable day when we--the guard