at you do, fair creature, still
betters what is done.'"

"Then I'm content," said Cynthia, seating herself and holding the
cigarette lightly between her fingers.

She still kept it alight by an occasional little puff; but Hubert smiled
to see that her enjoyment of it was, as a humorist has said of his first
cigar, "purely of an intellectual kind." She enjoyed doing what was
unusual and _bizarre_--that was all. He wondered whence she sprang, this
brilliant creature of earth with instincts so keen, desires so ardent,
mind and imagination so much more fully developed than was usual with
girls of her age. Cynthia's beauty was undeniable; but even without
beauty, save that of youth, she would have been striking and remarkable.

She was not conscious of his continued gaze at her; she seemed to be
lost in thought--perhaps of her earlier years, for presently she said in
a reflective tone--

"You were surprised at my quoting Scripture. I wonder why? I do not
seem such a bad person that I must not quote the Bible, do I?"

"Certainly not."

"I used to be at the head of the Bible-class always when I was at St.
Elizabeth's," she said dreamily. She did not notice that Hubert gave a
little start when he heard the name.

"Your school was called St. Elizabeth's?"

"Yes."

"At East Winstead?"

"Yes"--this time rather hesitatingly. "Why?"

"Did you happen to know a girl called Jane Wood?"

The two looked at each other steadily for a minute or two. Hubert had
spoken with resolute quietness; he thought that Cynthia's expression
hardened, and that her color failed a little as she replied--

"I remember her quite well. She ran away."

"Before you left?"

"Before I left," said the girl, looking down at the cigarette she had
taken from her lips and held between her fingers. Suddenly she threw it
into the fire, and sitting erect, while a hot flush crossed her face,
went on, "Why do you want to know?"

"Oh, nothing! What sort of a girl she was, for instance."

"A wild little creature--a horrid, ungrateful, bad-tempered girl!
They--we were all glad when she went."

"Why, the old woman--what's her name?--Sister Louisa--said that she was
a general favorite!"

"I'm sure she wasn't. When were you there?"

"The day after her departure, I think."

"And what took you there, Mr. Lepel?" There was a touch of bewilderment
in Cynthia's voice.

"Curiosity, for the most part."

"No one was at the school whom you knew, I suppose?"