as she had him on her string? She hasn't treated
you right, John; or else it's your own fault, and you've shilly-shallied
too long with your confounded notions of honor. Which is it?"

Dunham remained silent and motionless; and his shock and grief acted as
a quietus on the older man's belligerency. "Forgive me, Boy. This isn't
any time to haul you over the coals. It seems it isn't any itch for a
title in Edna's case. The fellow hasn't any handle to his name, and he
has money--or pretends to have. Sylvia says she's very happy."

"She deserves to be," said Dunham.

"She doesn't. She's a simpleton; and worse, for she's been leading you
on."

"No, she hasn't, Judge Trent."

"Oh, of course you'll always swear to that. Let it happen thirty years
hence to your son, and you'll call things by their right names."

Dunham heard the affection for himself in the strained voice, and he
turned slowly around and smiled up into his partisan's lean, excited
face, with eyes that again gave the judge an unaccustomed sensation.

"You've been a dunce, Boy. Why didn't you get busy at the island last
summer, after all your talk about adoration? You could have got her. I
don't believe you've half tried."

John still smiled as he replied quietly, "No. I haven't half tried."

The judge scowled his amazement. "Why not, then?" he demanded, when he
could speak.

Dunham hesitated a moment before he answered, "Because I saw that
neither of us wished it."

Judge Trent glared at him during a short silence. "What are you mooning
about, then?" he burst forth at last. "What are you tearing up deeds
for? Why aren't you worth your salt?"

Dunham colored under the vigorous arraignment.

"Oh, you're a mind-reader all right, Judge Trent. You didn't guess
wrong."

"You're in love?" snarled the lawyer angrily.

John nodded.

"Who is it?" explosively.

"Don't you think I'd better wait and see if I can get her?"

"_Tss!_" hissed the judge in unspeakable scorn. He went back to his
chair and sat down, still holding the other's eyes with an angry stare.
"You know you haven't any doubt that you'll get her."

"Yes, I have. Many. There was a time--but that's passed. She is
distressingly interested in other things."

"Any money?" asked the judge.

"No."

"Have you, then?"

Dunham nodded. He saw a ripple of surprise pass over the sharp face
opposite.

"What sort of connections has she?"

John smiled. "Well, some of them think very well of