ary, his shining
black eyes keeping watch on the group of strangers as he darted from
cage bottom to perch, or hung, fluttering and apprehensive, against the
wires of his home. Clare lifted the cage to her knee and encircled it
with an arm.

Balcome caught Sue's eye, made a comical grimace, and patted her on the
arm. "As this seems to concern my girl," he explained, "I'm here to
stay." He dropped into a chair by the hearth.

Sue went out.

Clare was quite herself by now. She disdained to look at anyone save
Farvel, and the smile she gave him over a shoulder was scornful.
"Well, shoot!" she challenged. "Let's not take all day."

"Why did you leave without a word?" he asked.

"You mean today?--I told you."

"I mean ten years ago."

"Well, if you want to know, I was tired of being cooped up, so I dug
out."

"Cooped up!" exclaimed Farvel, bitterly.

"I guess you know it! And Church! Church! Church! And prayers three
times a day! And a small town! Oh, it was _deadly_!"

"No other reason?" asked Farvel, coldly.

She got up, suddenly impatient. "I've told you the truth!" she cried.
Then more quietly, seeing how white and drawn he looked, "I'm sorry it
worried you." She set the cage on a chair near the double door.

"Worried!" echoed Farvel, bitterly. "Ha! ha!" And with significance,
"And who was concerned in your going?"

"That's a nice thing for you to insinuate!" she returned hotly.

"I beg your pardon."

Mrs. Milo fell to rocking nervously. She was enjoying the situation to
the full; still--the attitude of Farvel toward this young woman was far
from lover-like; while her attitude toward him was marked by hatred
badly disguised. Hence an unpleasant and unwelcome thought: What if
this "Laura" turned out to be only a relative of the clergyman's!

Farvel's apology moved Clare to laughter. "Oh, that's all right," she
assured him, impudently; "I understand. The more religious people are,
you know, the more vile are their suspicions"--this with a mocking
glance at Mrs. Milo.

The green velour rocker suddenly stood still, and Mrs. Milo fairly
glared at the girl. Clare, seeing that she had gained the result she
sought, grinned with satisfaction, and resumed her chair.

Farvel had not noticed what passed between the two women. He was
watching Wallace. "And you----" he began presently.

The younger man straightened, writhed within his clothes as if he were
in pain, and went back to his st