he knew he disliked, distrusted and
suspected. She thought that she understood fully what she grasped only
in part.

In the afternoon again, Leland withdrew to his private room, again the
battle between motives and desires raged hotly. It so happened that
Wayne Shandon, appearing at a critical moment, brought about a decision.

Leland was standing before his window, his smouldering eyes frowning at
the meadow down which Spring had come, scattering buttercups to mark
her passing. He had not noticed the glossy chalices brimming with
sunlight; the springtime had had no softening effect upon his absorbed
and troubled mood. But presently the sight of two figures riding side
by side down through the pasture whipped a new look into his eyes.

He watched them sharply as they rode toward the house. Their gay
voices came to him lifted into soft laughter; their light merriment, so
in tune with the springtime, fell jarringly on Leland's ears.

"The fellow has the insolence of Satan," he muttered angrily.

For a moment he lost sight of them as they passed behind the stable.
Then, walking, Wanda's face lifted in rosy happiness, Wayne's like a
boy's, eager and glad, they came on to the house. Leland stood stone
still at the window; Wanda, catching sight of him, threw him a kiss.
Wayne, with a brief word to Wanda left her under the cedars in the yard
and came swiftly to the study, the light buoyancy of his step
bespeaking the exhilaration that danced through his blood. He swept
off his hat, put out his hand eagerly as he came into the room, his
eyes filled with the brightness of a supreme happiness.

"I am glad that I found you in," he began impetuously. "I don't know
how I could have waited . . . What's the matter, Mr. Leland?"

For Martin Leland, directing at him a piercing glance whose meaning was
unmistakable, did not unclasp the hands behind his back.

"You had something to say to me," Leland reminded him briefly. "What
is it?"

Shandon met his stare with silent surprise. Then, forcing himself to
speak quietly, as though the insult of Leland's attitude had been
unnoticed, he said:

"I wanted to tell you that I love Wanda, that some day I hope to make
her my wife."

"What!" shouted Leland incredulously. "You--_you_ want to marry my
daughter! _You_!"

"Yes," said Wayne steadily. "I."

Martin's scornful laugh, forced and hard, drove the happiness from
Shandon's eyes and a quick hot flush into his cheeks.