rent; and--I'm going to tell you something." The pink flush dyed
even the white throat now. "He said he wished I would get married--it
was for the best. That's the way he wanted me for himself!" Joyce
laughed with a bitterness that changed suddenly as she recalled the
subtle power she had felt over Gaston even while he was forcing her out
of his life.

"He asked me about Jock Filmer."

"Jock Filmer?" Jude's jaw dropped. Was all St. Ange hurtling around
Joyce? "Jock Filmer--why--why--" Words failed him and he laughed
noisily.

"Oh, I don't know," Joyce tossed her head. "You seem to think nobody
would want me--I guess--they would--if I wanted them!" The girl was worn
out; racked by the emotions that were reflected from the new attitude of
others toward her.

And now Jude came around the table again. This time he walked steadily,
and he was quite himself. The best self he had ever yet been.

"I want you Joyce--God knows I do."

"He said you did."

"Who?"

"He--Mr. Gaston."

"He--said that? Then why in thunder did--he kiss you?"

That rock Jude dashed against at every turn.

"He didn't until--until I told him--I liked you."

Poor Joyce! She was never to tell any one that that admission had been
wrung from her in order to make Gaston think he himself had not been
deeply in her thoughts. It had been a difficult fencing match that
afternoon.

"You told him that?" A light came into Jude's handsome, heavy face,
which quickly vanished as the torturing jealousy, feeding upon a new
hope, rose, defiantly. "You told him you cared--and then he kissed you,
damn him! Maybe he thinks he'll get you to take me, and then he'll go on
with hand-holding and kissing all the safer."

"Take that back," cried Joyce harshly. "Take that back, Jude Lauzoon."
Yet as she resented the implied insult, the primitive woman in her
admired Jude as it had never admired him before.

"I didn't mean it against you, Joyce, I swear it. Can't you see how I
love yer and I don't want yer hurt? No one ain't going to hurt yer!" He
had clutched her to him roughly but tenderly. "Maybe he wouldn't want
ter, maybe I don't understand--but he can't, anyway!"

She was sobbing hysterically against his breast.

"You're mine, lass; you're just a little one; you don't know things.
You're no older than you was when you toted over to Hillcrest and--and
never felt afraid."

Jude tried to kiss the tear-stained face, but she pressed it closer
against him. He h