fidy another hour
after that. By that time it was late and Albert went home. The second
call was even worse, for Ed Raymond called also and the two young men
glowered at each other until ten o'clock. They might have continued to
glower indefinitely, for neither meant to leave before the other, but
Helen announced that she had some home-study papers to look over and she
knew they would excuse her under the circumstances. On that hint
they departed simultaneously, separating at the gate and walking with
deliberate dignity in opposite directions.

At his third attempt, however, Albert was successful to the extent
that Helen was alone when he called and there was no school work to
interrupt. But in no other respect was the interview satisfactory.
All that week he had been boiling with the indignation of the landed
proprietor who discovers a trespasser on his estate, and before this
call was fifteen minutes old his feelings had boiled over.

"What IS the matter with you, Al?" asked Helen. "Do tell me and let's
see if I can't help you out of your trouble."

Her visitor flushed. "Trouble?" he repeated, stiffly. "I don't know what
you mean."

"Oh yes, do. You must. What IS the matter?"

"There is nothing the matter with me."

"Nonsense! Of course there is. You have scarcely spoken a word of
your own accord since you came, and you have been scowling like a
thundercloud all the time. Now what is it? Have I done something you
don't like?"

"There is nothing the matter, I tell you."

"Please don't be so silly. Of course there is. I thought there must
be something wrong the last time you were here, that evening, when Ed
called, too. It seemed to me that you were rather queer then. Now you
are queerer still. What is it?"

This straightforward attack, although absolutely characteristic of
Helen, was disconcerting. Albert met it by an attack of his own.

"Helen," he demanded, "what does that Raymond fellow mean by coming to
see you as he does?"

Now whether or not Helen was entirely in the dark as to the cause of her
visitor's "queerness" is a question not to be answered here. She was far
from being a stupid young person and it is at least probable that she
may have guessed a little of the truth. But, being feminine, she did not
permit Albert to guess that she had guessed. If her astonishment at the
question was not entirely sincere, it certainly appeared to be so.

"What does he mean?" she repeated. "What does he mean b