Francie brought forth.

"You told them so?"

"When they were all crying and going on. I told them I knew it--I told
them I gave you the tip as you call it."

She felt Mr. Flack fix her all alarmingly as she spoke these words;
then he was still nearer to her--he had taken her hand. "Ah you're too
sweet!" She disengaged her hand and in the effort she sprang up; but
he, rising too, seemed to press always nearer--she had a sense (it was
disagreeable) that he was demonstrative--so that she retreated a little
before him. "They were all there roaring and raging, trying to make you
believe you had outraged them?"

"All but young Mr. Probert. Certainly they don't like it," she said at
her distance.

"The cowards!" George Flack after a moment remarked. "And where was
young Mr. Probert?" he then demanded.

"He was away--I've told you--in America."

"Ah yes, your father told me. But now he's back doesn't he like it
either?"

"I don't know, Mr. Flack," Francie answered with impatience.

"Well I do then. He's a coward too--he'll do what his poppa tells him,
and the countess and the duchess and his French brothers-in-law from
whom he takes lessons: he'll just back down, he'll give you up."

"I can't talk with you about that," said Francie.

"Why not? why is he such a sacred subject, when we ARE together?
You can't alter that," her visitor insisted. "It was too lovely your
standing up for me--your not denying me!"

"You put in things I never said. It seems to me it was very different,"
she freely contended.

"Everything IS different when it's printed. What else would be the
good of the papers? Besides, it wasn't I; it was a lady who helps me
here--you've heard me speak of her: Miss Topping. She wants so much to
know you--she wants to talk with you."

"And will she publish THAT?" Francie asked with unstudied effect.

Mr. Flack stared a moment. "Lord, how they've worked on you! And do YOU
think it's bad?"

"Do I think what's bad?"

"Why the letter we're talking about."

"Well--I didn't see the point of so much."

He waited a little, interestedly. "Do you think I took any advantage?"

She made no answer at first, but after a moment said in a tone he had
never heard from her: "Why do you come here this way? Why do you ask me
such questions?"

He hesitated; after which he broke out: "Because I love you. Don't you
know that?"

"Oh PLEASE don't!" she almost moaned, turning away.

But he was launched now and he l