atly," observed Clare, as they turned in their walk, and their
eyes met.

"Well, I'm sorry, but since we are talking about it, I've got to say
what I think. After all, I'm the person attacked. I have a right to
defend myself."

"I haven't attacked you," answered the young girl, gravely.

"I won't be rude, if I can help it," said Brook, half roughly. "But I
asked you if you disliked me for something I had done or said, and you
couldn't deny it. That means that I have done or said something bad
enough to make you say that you will never be my friend--and that must
be something very bad indeed."

"Then you think I'm not squeamish? It would have to be something very,
very bad."

"Yes."

"Thank you. Well, I thought it very bad. Anybody would, I should fancy."

"I never did anything very, very bad, so you must be mistaken," answered
Johnstone, exasperated.

Clare said nothing, but walked along with her head rather high, looking
straight before her. It had all happened before her eyes, on the very
ground under her feet, on that platform. Johnstone knew that he had
spoken roughly.

"I say," he began, "was I rude? I'm awfully sorry." Clare stopped and
stood still.

"Mr. Johnstone, we sha'n't agree. I will never tell you, and you will
never be satisfied unless I do. So it's a dead-lock."

"You are horribly unjust," answered Brook, very much in earnest, and
fixing his bright eyes on hers. "You seem to take a delight in
tormenting me with this imaginary secret. After all, if it's something
you saw me do, or heard me say, I must know of it and remember it, so
there's no earthly reason why we shouldn't discuss it."

There was again that fascination in his eyes, and she felt herself
yielding.

"I'll say one thing," she said. "I wish you hadn't done it!"

She felt that she could not look away from him, and that he was getting
her into his power. The colour rose in her face.

"Please don't look at me!" she said suddenly, gazing helplessly into his
eyes, but his steady look did not change.

"Please--oh, please look away!" she cried, half-frightened and growing
pale again.

He turned from her, surprised at her manner.

"I'm afraid you're not in earnest about this, after all," he said,
thoughtfully. "If you meant what you said, why shouldn't you look at
me?"

She blushed scarlet again.

"It's very rude to stare like that!" she said, in an offended tone.
"You know that you've got something--I don't know what to c