class. Why quarrel about anything so obviously true?"

"Victor Dorn belongs to a class by himself," replied Jane. "You forget
that men of genius are not regarded like you poor ordinary mortals."

Davy was relieved that they had reached the turning at which they had
to separate. "I believe you are in love with him," said he as a
parting shot.

Jane, riding into her lane, laughed gayly, mockingly. She arrived at
home in fine humor. It pleased her that Davy, for all his love for
Selma, could yet be jealous of Victor Dorn on her account. And more
than ever, after this talk with him--the part of it that preceded the
quarrel--she felt that she was doing a fine, brave, haughtily
aristocratic thing in loving Victor Dorn. Only a woman with a royal
soul would venture to be thus audacious.

Should she encourage or discourage the affair between Davy and Selma?
There was much to be said for this way of removing Selma from her path;
also, if a man of Davy Hull's position married beneath him, less would
be thought of her doing the same thing. On the other hand, she felt
that she had a certain property right in David Hull, and that Selma was
taking what belonged to her. This, she admitted to herself, was mean
and small, was unworthy of the woman who was trying to be worthy of
Victor Dorn, of such love as she professed for him. Yes, mean and
small. She must try to conquer it.

But--when she met Selma in the woods a few mornings later, her dominant
emotions were anything but high-minded and generous. Selma was looking
her most fascinating--wild and strange and unique. They caught sight
of each other at the same instant. Jane came composedly on--Selma made
a darting movement toward a by-path opening near her, hesitated, stood
like some shy, lovely bird of the deep wilderness ready to fly away
into hiding.

"Hello, Selma!" said Jane carelessly.

Selma looked at her with wide, serious eyes.

"Where have you been keeping yourself of late? Busy with the writing,
I suppose?"

"I owe you an apology," said Selma, in a queer, suppressed voice. "I
have been hating you, and trying to think of some way to keep you and
Victor Dorn apart. I thought it was from my duty to the cause. I've
found out that it was a low, mean personal reason."

Jane had stopped short, was regarding her with eyes that glowed in a
pallid face. "Because you are in love with him?" she said.

Selma gave a quick, shamed nod. "Yes," she said--the sound w