y the
social coldness around her, kept silence.

In less than an hour the uncomfortable meal was over and the party
withdrew to the drawing room.

Le then arose to bid them good-night.

"No, no, Leonidas, my lad! Don't go! Not yet, at least. Wait; I have
something to say to you. Excuse me, friends! Come into the library with
me, Le," said Mr. Force, rising, drawing the arm of the younger man within
his own and passing out.

When they reached the little book room in the rear of Mrs. Force's sitting
room, and which the family dignified by the name of library, Mr. Force
said:

"Sit down, Le." And taking a seat himself, pushed another to his
companion.

"Now, Le," he said, when both were seated, "where were you going?"

"To Greenbushes, of course. I ought to be there to look after my
property."

"Yes, yes; but Beever don't expect you to-night and has not got things
ready for you; and besides it is too late. Don't leave us to-night, Le.
Don't hurry away! Your doing so would hurt Odalite. She would think she
had driven you away."

"Well, then, I will not go. I have hurt Odalite enough. If my going would
hurt her I would stay here and stand that ruffian's insolence until he
takes her away. I beg your pardon, uncle, for calling your intended
son-in-law a ruffian."

"Oh, fire away, my lad! You have every right to swear! I feel like joining
you."

"His insolence in laughing when you praised my aunt so much!"

"But I did not praise her above her merits. Why, just look at her, Le!
Nearly forty years old, and the very handsomest woman in the country, and
as noble and perfect in mind as in person!"

"Yes; and he laughed!"

"Look here, Le. You know he was a brother officer of my wife's brother,
and an old friend of hers. Now, I'll tell you what, I often think that he
was a rejected suitor of Lady Elfrida Glennon. And the memory of it makes
him sore and sarcastic at times. Many little things in their intercourse
makes me think that sometimes. Bear with him, Le, as I shall do, for
Odalite's sake. Now shall we return to the drawing room?"

"If you please."

CHAPTER XVI

LE'S MYSTERIOUS MOVEMENTS

Le remained at Mondreer, only riding over to Greenbushes every day to
superintend the repairs and refurnishing of his house.

He never met Odalite except at meal times, and then their chairs were so
placed that neither need look in the face of the other. Odalite's seat was
near the head of the table. Le's near