r,' said Helen's voice coldly, 'will I ever forgive you. Nor am I
the fool to believe all these tales. Maybe you can make a fool of my
father, but----'

'Helen, Helen,' expostulated Longstreet sternly, 'you are being hasty.
At times like this one should seek to be kind and just.'

Again Helen's sniff was audible and eloquent.

'Do you mean,' she demanded, 'that you believe all of this nonsense?'

'I mean, my dear, that one should be deliberate. Mrs. Murray has made
an explanation, she is plainly sick with grief at what has occurred.
She has ridden straight to us. What more could one do? When you are
older, my dear, and have seen more of life you will know that the world
sometimes makes terrible mistakes.'

'You are so great-hearted!' sobbed Sanchia. 'So wonderful! There is
not another man in the world who would be even tolerant at a time like
this. And to think that it is you--you whom I have hurt.' Her sobs
overcame her.

Helen flung herself angrily to her feet.

'Papa,' she cried, 'can't you see, can't you understand that this woman
is determined to make a fool of you again? Hasn't she done it once
already? Oh, are you going to be just a little baby in her hands?'

Sanchia lowered her handkerchief for a swift glance at Helen and then
at the other faces in the room. The sternness on Howard's and Carr's
faces did not greatly concern her, for she saw written across
Longstreet's countenance just about what she had counted on. And
Helen's words had simply succeeded in drawing his indignation toward
his daughter. Hence, wisely, Sanchia was content to be silent for a
spell. Matters seemed to be going well enough left alone.

Helen had meant to run out of doors, to close her ears to this
maddening discussion. She felt that it was either that or deliberately
slap Sanchia Murray's face. Now, however, she sat down again, deciding
with a degree of acumen that Sanchia would prefer nothing to a
_tete-a-tete_ with Longstreet.

'After all,' said Helen more quietly and with a look which was hard as
it flashed across Sanchia's face to Howard's and then on, 'threshing
all this over is valueless. Forgive her, father,' she went on
contemptuously, 'if either of you will feel better for it, and don't
detain her. We are going back East in a few days, anyway.'

Howard stared at her wonderingly as Carr nodded his approval of the
speech. But Longstreet spoke with considerable emphasis.

'Aren't you rather prema