nt command."

Stephen then told her of his adventures, relating to her wholly and
candidly the details of his suspicions, together with his plan for the
future. Throughout it all she listened with attention, so much
interested that she was scarce aware that they were crossing the wide
road before her own home. Her eyes had been about her everywhere as they
walked, yet they had failed to perceive anything.

"Won't you come in?" she asked. "You are almost a stranger here now."

"I would like to more than I can tell you; but truly I have business
before me which is pressing. Pardon me just once more, please."

"Mother would be pleased to see you, you know," she insisted.

"I should like, indeed, to see your mother. I shall stop to see her,
just to inquire for her."

"Will you come when this terrible business is completed?"

"Gladly. Let us say,--next week. Perhaps you might be pleased to come
canoeing with me for the space of an afternoon?"

"I should be delighted. Next week?"

"Yes. Next week. I shall let you know."

"Here is mother, now."

He went in and shook her hand, inquiring diligently concerning her.

IV

As Stephen walked away from the home of his beloved, ruminating over the
strange disclosures of the day and how satisfactory and gratifying they
were to him, his state of mind was such that he was eager for the
completion of the more serious business that was impending so that he
might return to her who had flooded his soul with new and sudden
delight. Never was he more buoyant or cheerful. He was cheerful,
notwithstanding his remorse.

For he did chide himself over his absurd stupidity. He should have
known her better than to have entertained, for even a passing moment, a
thought of her inconstancy, and that he should have so misjudged
her,--her whom he himself would have selected from among his host of
acquaintances as the one best fitted for the office assumed,--disturbed
him not a little. His own unworthiness filled him with shame. Why did he
question her?

And yet he would have given his own life to make her happy, he who was
quietly allowing her to vanish out of it. He tried to explain his
fallacy. First of all, the trend of circumstances was decidedly against
him. There was his arrest and subsequent trial, days when he had longed
to be at her side to pursue the advantages already gained. Then there
were the days of his absence from town, the long solid weeks spent in
trailing Anderson,