ed it.

"What are the arrangements?" he said, abruptly.

"Do you think we had better discuss them?"

"We will discuss everything that concerns you. But don't be supposing I
haven't heard; I have seen Aunt Katrina, and forced it out of her, I
know you intend to go back to Lanse--intend to go to-morrow."

She did not reply.

"You don't deny it?"

"No, I don't deny it."

"And the arrangements?"

"I--I had thought of living here."

"Here, at East Angels, you mean? Oh, you wish to bring _him_ here? An
excellent idea; Aunt Katrina would not be separated longer from her dear
boy, and Lanse and his retinue would fit in nicely among all the
comforts and luxuries we have between us collected here. Yes; I see."

There was a quiver for an instant in Margaret's throat, though her face
did not alter. "My only thought was that perhaps it would be more of a
home for me," she answered, looking off over the green open space and
the thicket beyond it.

His hardness softened a little. "Of course it would. You surely cannot
have had the idea of living at Fernandina?"

"That would be as Lanse says."

"You are determined to go back to him?"

"Yes."

He changed his position so that he could have a better view of her face.
"Bring him here, then!" he exclaimed. "Anything is better than to have
you wandering about the world, homeless!"

"You would let me come and see you now and then?" he said, beginning
again. He spoke in what he himself would have called a reasonable tone.
"I could help you in a good many ways; of course, in saying this, you
understand that I agree to accept Lanse--as well as I can."

"You must never come."

"Do you mean that?"

"I mean it unalterably."

"It's because I spoke as I did--this is my punishment. But if I promise
never to speak in that way again?"

"You must not come."

"Tell me just what it is you intend to do--we'll have it out now. Tell
me the whole, you needn't spare."

"After to-day, I wish--I intend--never to see you again--that is, alone.
It is hard that you should make me speak it out in this way."

"Oh--make; you are capable of saying whatever you please without being
made; whatever will do me the most good and hurt me the most--the two
are synonymous in your opinion--that is what you delight in."

She had turned away with bent head.

"You are not as strong as you thought you were; it does hurt you,
Margaret, after all, to say such things to me."

There was an old stone