eyes and blond
curls can do it. I wanted you to see what I do, say what you think, like
it or damn it--only do something about it! You've never been to my
studio except to stand with the perfumed crowd and talk commonplaces in
front of a picture."

"I can't go alone."

"Can't you?" he asked, looking closely at her in the dusk, so close that
she could see every mocking feature.

"Yes," she said in a low, surprised voice, "I could go
alone--anywhere--with you.... I didn't realise it before, Duane."

"You never tried. You once mistook an impulse of genuine passion for the
sort of thing I've done since. You made a terrific fuss about being
kissed when I saw, as soon as I saw you, that I wanted to win you, if
you'd let me. Since then you've chosen the key-note of our relations,
not I, and you don't like my interpretation of my part."

For a while she sat silent, preoccupied with this totally new revelation
of a man about whom she supposed she had long ago made up her mind.

"I'm glad we've had this talk," she said at last.

"I am, too. I haven't asked you to fall in love with me; I haven't asked
for your confidence. I've asked you to take an intelligent, affectionate
interest in what I might become, and perhaps you and I won't be so
lonely if you do."

He struck a match in the darkness and lighted a cigarette. Close inshore
Scott Seagrave's electric torch flashed. They heard the velvety scraping
of the canoe, the rattle and thump as he flung it, bottom upward, on the
sandy point.

"Hello, you people! Where are you?"--sweeping the wood's edge with his
flash-light--"oh, there you are. Isn't this glorious? Did you ever see
such a sight as those big fellows jumping?"

"Meanwhile," said his sister, rising, "our guests are doubtless yelling
with hunger. What time is it, Duane? Half-past eight? Please hurry,
Scott; we've got to get back and dress in five minutes!"

"I can do it easily," announced her brother, going ahead to light the
path. And all the way home he discussed aloud upon the stripping,
hatching, breeding, care, and diseases of trout, never looking back,
and quite confident that they were listening attentively to his woodland
lecture.

"Duane," she said, lowering her voice, "do you think all our
misunderstandings are ended?"

"Certainly," he replied gaily. "Don't you?"

"But how am I going to make everybody think you are not frivolous?"

"I am frivolous. There's lots of froth to me--on top. You know t