as analytic
and she began to feel herself a simple compound in the hands of an
expert chemist.

"I am sorry to have caused you a disappointment."

"Please, let me assure you there is no need of an apology."

"And you were not disappointed?"

A smile began to play about the corners of her small mouth. She tried to
be humorous.

"Perhaps. But not to the extent of requiring an apology."

"You might have joined us."

"You know better than that."

"I mean it. Peggy would have been pleased to have you."

"Did she say so?"

"No. But I know that she would."

"Alas!" He raised his arm in a slight gesture.

She was knitting now, talking as she did. She paused to raise her eyes.

"I think you dislike Peggy," she said with evident emphasis.

"Why?"

"I scarce know. My instinct, I suppose."

"I distrust her, if that is what you mean?"

"Have you had reason?"

"I cannot answer you now, for which I am very sorry. You will find my
reasoning correct at some future time, I hope."

"Do you approve of my friendship with her?"

She did not raise her eyes this time, but allowed them to remain fixed
upon the needles.

"It is not mine to decide. You are mistress of your own destinies."

Her face grew a shade paler, and the look in her eyes deepened.

"I simply asked your advice, that was all."

The words hit so hard that he drew his breath. He realized that he had
been brusque and through his soul there poured a kind of anger first,
then wounded pride, then a sense of crushing pain.

"I regret having said that," he tried to explain to her. "But I cannot
tell you what is in my mind. Since you do ask me, I fear Peggy greatly,
but I would not say that your friendship with her should cease. Not at
present, anyhow."

"Well, did you approve of my going there with Mr. Anderson?"

"With him? No."

"Can you tell me the reason?"

And then he explained briefly to her of his reasons for disliking this
man and of the veil of suspicion and of mystery with which he was
surrounded. He did not think him a suitable companion for her, and
wished for her own good that she would see no more of him.

There was no reply to his observations. On the contrary Marjorie lapsed
into a meditative silence which seemed to grow deeper and deeper as the
moments passed. Stephen watched her until the suspense became almost
beyond endurance, wondering what thoughts were coursing through her
mind.

At length he broke the silence with the w