b
evidently, for he turned back.

They walked five blocks without a word. Hazel glanced at Barrow now
and then, and observed with an uncomfortable sinking of her heart that
he was sullen, openly resentful, suspicious.

"Johnnie-boy," she said suddenly, "don't look so cross. Surely you
don't blame me because Mr. Bush wills me a sum of money in a way that
makes people wonder?"

"I can't understand it at all," he said slowly. "It's very
peculiar--and deucedly unpleasant. Why should he leave you money at
all? And why should he word the will as he did? What wrong did he
ever do you?"

"None," Hazel answered shortly. His tone wounded her, cut her deep, so
eloquent was it of distrust. "The only wrong he has done me lies in
willing me that money as he did."

"But there's an explanation for that," Barrow declared moodily.
"There's a key to the mystery, and if anybody has it you have. What is
it?"

"Jack," Hazel pleaded, "don't take that tone with me. I can't stand
it--I won't. I'm not a little child to be scolded and browbeaten.
This morning when you telephoned you were almost insulting, and it hurt
me dreadfully. You're angry now, and suspicious. You seem to think I
must have done some dreadful thing. I know what you're thinking. The
_Gazette_ hinted at some 'affair' between me and Mr. Bush; that
possibly that was a sort of left-handed reparation for ruining me. If
that didn't make me angry, it would amuse me--it's so absurd. Haven't
you any faith in me at all? I haven't done anything to be ashamed of.
I've got nothing to conceal."

"Don't conceal it, then," Barrow muttered sulkily. "I've got a right
to know whatever there is to know if I'm going to marry you. You don't
seem to have any idea what this sort of talk that's going around means
to a man."

Hazel stopped short and faced him. Her heart pounded sickeningly, and
hurt pride and rising anger choked her for an instant. But she managed
to speak calmly, perhaps with added calmness by reason of the struggle
she was compelled to make for self-control.

"If you are going to marry me," she repeated, "you have got a right to
know all there is to know. Have I refused to explain? I haven't had
much chance to explain yet. Have I refused to tell you anything? If
you ever thought of anybody beside yourself, you might be asking
yourself how all this talk would affect a girl like me. And, besides,
I think from your manner that you've already conde