ented the thought with unreasonable anger. Of course she must
marry. And he would have to give her up.

He began to realize dimly how much he owed to her of peace and
happiness during the past nine lonely years. A sweet comradeship had
grown between them deeper and more tender than the tie which binds a
brother and sister, and he had taken it as a matter of course. He
resented the idea of a break in their relations. Yet why should he?
What rights had he over her life? Absolutely none, of course. He
wondered vaguely if she were sly enough to have a sweetheart and let
nobody know? Who was that fellow? Where had he met him before?

He rose with a sudden frown. Sure as fate--the very boy--the tall,
dreamy-looking youngster who danced with her so many times that night
ten years ago at her birthday party! She said he was too frail--that
her prince must be strong. Well, confound him, he had gotten strong.
That's why he had failed to place him at first. He made up his mind to
put a stop to it. He was her guardian anyway. Her father was so
absorbed in saving the world, any thief could slip in and steal his
daughter under his very nose. The fellow who took Harriet would have to
measure up to the full stature of a man. He made up his mind to that.

He walked over to the piano and stood behind her a moment.

When the last note died softly away and she began turning the pages of
a pile of music sheets without looking up, Stuart said, with a studied
indifference:

"Tell me, little pal, who was that tall young fellow I ran into on the
steps?"

"Why, don't you remember my frail young admirer of long ago?"

"Do you love him, girlie?"

Stuart bent low and looked searchingly into her eyes.

Her fingers slipped lazily over the keys in little touches of
half-forgotten songs.

"When I was very, very young, I thought I did. It makes me laugh now.
It's wonderful how much we can outgrow, isn't it?"

"I'm glad you've outgrown this."

"Why? He's an awfully nice fellow."

"Perhaps--but I don't like him."

"What's the matter with him?"

"I just don't like him and I don't want you to like him."

"Oh!"

"You see, little pal, I'm your guardian."

"Are you?"

"Yes, and I'm giving you due legal notice that you have no right to
marry without my consent--you promise to make me your confidant?"

A soft laugh full of tenderness and joy came from the girl as she
turned her eyes upward for the first time:

"All right, guardie, I'll