sat up in confusion. She and Stafford had been so completely engrossed
that they had not heard the entrance of Oku, who had come in to
announce that dinner was ready.

"Excuse, please! Dinner, it is served!"

His master motioned him to go into the next room.

"Go and tell Miss Blaine and Mr. Gillie," he said in a slightly
annoyed tone.

The servant disappeared, and Stafford, inwardly cursing Oku for the
interruption, returned to the attack.

"Won't you say yes?" he pleaded.

But the spell was broken--for the time at least. Virginia had risen,
and was busy rearranging her rumpled dress.

Glad of the interruption, she shook her head. It was too serious a
matter to be settled so quickly. She must have time to think.

"Not now," she murmured.

"Yes," he persisted, again approaching her.

Her very resistance spurred him on. Like most men, he valued most what
he could not have. Had she yielded readily, he would have thought less
of her. She drew back, as if avoiding his embrace.

"You must give me time to consider," she whispered.

Stafford was about to insist, when suddenly the folding doors behind
them were thrown open, disclosing the elaborately laid dining table.
At the same instant Fanny and her fiance reappeared from the library.
Giving Virginia a quick glance, as if anxious to know what had
occurred during their absence, the elder sister said:

"Those pictures are lovely, aren't they, Jim?"

"Fine," he exclaimed.

Stafford bowed in acknowledgment.

"I'm glad you liked them," he smiled. Turning to the younger sister,
he added: "Shall we go in to dinner?"

Virginia, who had been standing with her back to the dining room, her
face clouded in deep thought, turned round. An exclamation of surprise
and delight escaped her lips when she caught sight of the elaborate
spread made in her honor.

"Oh, isn't it beautiful!" she exclaimed rapturously.

The table, with its corbeils of fruit, beautiful silver, floral
pieces, snowy linen, fine crystal, the whole dominated by a superb
electrolier, which cast color over all, was indeed a spectacle to
delight and fascinate the eye. Jimmie was so overcome by the sight,
that he nearly fell over the chair which the accommodating Oku held
out for him. At last all were seated, Virginia at the right hand of
the host, Fanny at the left, the shipping clerk at the other end of
the table.

"Wine, Oku, the wine!" cried Stafford, while his guests began to
nibble the daint