y coming to see
me? Why, what do YOU mean? I should think that was the question. Why
shouldn't he come to see me, pray?"

Now Albert has a dozen reasons in his mind, each of which was to him
sufficiently convincing. But expressing those reasons to Helen Kendall
he found singularly difficult. He grew confused and stammered.

"Well--well, because he has no business to come here so much," was the
best he could do. Helen, strange to say, was not satisfied.

"Has no business to?" she repeated. "Why, of course he has. I asked him
to come."

"You did? Good heavens, you don't LIKE him, do you?"

"Of course I like him. I think he is a very nice fellow. Don't you?"

"No, I don't."

"Why not?"

"Well--well, because I don't, that's all. He has no business to
monopolize you all the time. Why, he is here about every night in the
week, or you're out with him, down town, or--or somewhere. Everybody is
talking about it and--"

"Wait a minute, please. You say everybody is talking about Ed Raymond
and me. What do you mean by that? What are they saying?"

"They're saying. . . . Oh, they're saying you and he are--are--"

"Are what?"

"Are--are--Oh, they're saying all sorts of things. Look here, Helen,
I--"

"Wait! I want to know more about this. What have you heard said about
me?"

"Oh, a lot of things. . . . That is--er--well, nothing in particular,
perhaps, but--"

"Wait! Who have you heard saying it?"

"Oh, never mind! Helen--"

"But I do mind. Who have you heard saying this 'lot of things' about
me?"

"Nobody, I tell you. . . . Oh, well, if you must know, Issy Price
said--well, he said you and this Raymond fellow were what he called
'keeping company' and--and that the whole town was talking about it."

She slowly shook her head.

"Issy Price!" she repeated. "And you listened to what Issy Price said.
Issy Price, of all people!"

"Well--well, he said everyone else said the same thing."

"Did he say more than that?"

"No, but that was enough, wasn't it. Besides, the rest was plain. I
could see it myself. He is calling here about every night in the week,
and--and being around everywhere with you and--and--Oh, anyone can see!"

Helen's usually placid temper was beginning to ruffle.

"Very well," she said, "then they may see. Why shouldn't he call here if
he wishes--and I wish? Why shouldn't I be 'around with him,' as you say?
Why not?"

"Well, because I don't like it. It isn't the right thing for you to do