need, he thought, of bringing out his past
infatuation so plainly. In the light of a new one, it looked absurd
enough to him not to want to have it paraded before one of his present
companions at least. But Elizabeth had had no idea of parading his
absurdities; for when he said apologetically that one learned in time to
regulate his enthusiasms, she looked at him with surprise, as if roused,
and answered that the ability to be a good friend was the last thing to
need apology. Then she sat busy with her own thoughts.

"What, the mischief, is she after?" thought the young man watching her
as Katie talked, and there must have been strong reason that could have
diverted his mind in any degree from Katie. "Is it possible she has
struck my uncanny suspicion? If she has, she's cool about it. No, it's
impossible; I've buried it fathoms deep. Nobody could find it. It's too
evil a suspicion, too satanical, ever to be brought to light. I wish to
Heaven, though, I had never run across it, it makes me horribly
uncomfortable." Then he turned to Katie, but soon his thoughts were
running upon Elizabeth again. "She's one of those people," he mused,
"that you think don't notice anything, and all at once she'll score a
hit that the best players would be proud of. I can't make her out. But I
hardly think Edmonson would have everything quite his own way. Pity he
can't try it. I'd like to see it working. And perhaps some day--." So,
he tried to put away from him a suggestion, which, dwelt upon, gave him
a sense of personal guilt, because, only supposing this thing came that
Edmonson had hinted at, it would be an advantage to himself. He shivered
at the suggestion; there was no such purpose in reality, he was sure of
it. Edmonson only talked wildly as he had a way of doing. The very
thought seemed a crime to Bulchester. If he really believed, he ought to
speak. But he did not believe, and he could hardly denounce his friend
on a vagary. Still, he was troubled by Elizabeth's evident pondering,
and was glad to have the conversation turned into any channel that would
sweep out thoughts of Edmonson from their minds.

As this was done and he turned fully to Katie again, a new mood, the
effect of her sudden indifference, came over him. A few moments ago she
had been almost fond, now she was languidly polite. Hope faded away from
all points of his horizon. An easterly mist of doubt was creeping over
him. His egotism at its height was only a mild sa