tem? And how can
you have a rational system unless you begin the day right?"

"DID you see Victor Dorn?" said Jane--furious at his impertinence but
restraining herself.

"And after you have breakfasted," continued Charlton, "call me up
again, and I'll answer your questions."

With that he hung up his receiver. Jane threw herself angrily back
against her pillow. She would lie there for an hour, then call him
again. But--if he should ask her whether she had obeyed his orders?
True, she might lie to him; but wouldn't that be too petty? She
debated with herself for a few minutes, then obeyed him to the letter.
As she was coming through the front hall after breakfast, he appeared
in the doorway.

"You didn't trust me!" she cried reproachfully.

"Oh, yes," replied he. "But I preferred to talk with you face to face."

"DID you see Mr. Dorn?"

Charlton nodded. "He refused to advise me. He said he had a personal
prejudice in your favor that would make his advice worthless."

Jane glowed--but not quite so thrillingly as she would have glowed in
the same circumstances a year before.

"Besides, he's in no state of mind to advise anybody about anything
just now," said Charlton.

Jane glanced sharply at him. "What do you mean?" she said.

"It's not my secret," replied Charlton.

"You mean he has fallen in love?"

"That's shrewd," said Charlton. "But women always assume a love
affair."

"With whom?" persisted Jane.

"Oh, a very nice girl. No matter. I'm not here to talk about
anybody's affairs but yours--and mine."

"Answer just one question," said Jane, impulsively. "Did he tell you
anything about--me?"

Charlton stared--then whistled. "Are YOU in love with him, too?" he
cried.

Jane flushed--hesitated--then met his glance frankly. "I WAS," said
she.

"WAS?"

"I mean that I'm over it," said she. "What have you decided to do
about me?"

Charlton did not answer immediately. He eyed her narrowly--an
examination which she withstood well. Then he glanced away and seemed
to be reflecting. Finally he came back to her question. Said he:

"To give you a trial. To find out whether you'll do."

She drew a long sigh of relief.

"Didn't you guess?" he went on, smilingly, nodding his round,
prize-fighter head at her. "Those suggestions about bed and
breakfast--they were by way of a beginning."

"You must give me a lot to do," urged she. "I mustn't have a minute of
idle time."

He laughed.