fastened on his face that
reflected so manifestly the grief and pain in his heart.

"And wherefore this gloom?" said a gay voice at his side. It was Miss
Bessie Brodie.

Poor Dunn! He was not skilled in the fine art of social deception. He
could only gaze stupidly and with blinking eyes upon his questioner,
devoutly hoping meanwhile that the tears would not fall.

"Splendid Highlander, isn't he?" exclaimed Miss Bessie, hastily
withdrawing her eyes from his face, for she was much too fine a lady to
let him see her surprise.

"What?" exclaimed Dunn. "I don't know. I mean--yes, awfully--oh,
confound the thing, it's a beastly shame!"

Thereupon Miss Bessie turned her big blue eyes slowly upon him. "Meaning
what?" she said quietly.

"Oh, I beg pardon. I'm just a fool. Oh, hang it all!" Dunn could not
recover his composure. He backed out of the circle of admirers into a
darker corner.

"Fool?" said Miss Brodie, stepping back with him. "And why, pray? Can
I know? I suppose it's Cameron again," she continued. "Oh, I know all
about you and your mothering of him."

"Mothering!" said Dunn bitterly. "That is just what he needs, by Jove.
His mother has been dead these five years, and that's been the ruin of
him."

The cheers from Cameron's admirers broke in upon Dunn's speech. "Oh,
it's too ghastly," he muttered.

"Is it really so bad? Can't I help?" cried Miss Brodie. "You know I've
had some experience with boys."

As Dunn looked into her honest, kindly eyes he hesitated. Should he tell
her? He was in sore need of counsel, and besides he was at the limit
of his self-control. "I say," he said, staring at her, while his lips
quivered, "I'd like awfully to tell you, but I know if I ever begin I
shall just burst into tears before this gaping crowd."

"Tears!" exclaimed Miss Bessie. "Not you! And if you did it wouldn't
hurt either them or you. An International captain possesses this
advantage over other mortals: that he may burst into tears or anything
else without losing caste, whereas if I should do any such thing--But
come, let's get somewhere and talk it over. Now, then," said Miss Brodie
as they found a quiet corner, "first of all, ought I to know?"

"You'll know, all Edinburgh will know time day after to-morrow," said
Dunn.

"All right, then, it can't do any harm for me to know to-night. It
possibly may do good."

"It will do me good, anyway," said Dunn, "for I have reached my limit."

Then Dunn told her, and