came out stingingly through their
small pleasantness. It could not be, Flora thought in terror, that Mrs.
Herrick intended to leave these two enemies to each other! Mrs. Herrick
had risen; and Flora, following, saw both men, also uprisen, hang
hesitatingly, as if unready to be deserted; yet with well-filled
glasses, and newly smoking tobacco, both were caught.

Then Kerr, with a quick dash of his hand, picked up his glass. "Let us
be Continental," he begged, and followed close at Flora's side. Without
moving his lips Kerr was speaking. "What does this mean?"

She sensed the anger in his smothered voice, but she dared not look at
him.

"I have no idea; but I will see you."

"When?"

Her answer leaped to her mind and her lips at the same moment.

"In the rotunda when the house is quiet."

Harry had followed leisurely in their wake. The flush of haste had
subsided in his face, and when the four regrouped themselves in the
high, darkly-paneled room, among the low lights, Flora remarked his
extraordinary composure. Bitter he might be; but all the nervousness,
suspicion, uneasiness, that he had shown of late had vanished. There
was a tremendous confidence about him, the confidence of the player who
holds cards that must win the game, and sits back waiting for his
moment.

But she was ready to laugh at him in his security. He had underestimated
his opponent. In spite of him she was to have her meeting with Kerr!
Harry had waited too long to prevent that, whatever he might do
afterward. In this inspired moment she felt herself touching conquering
heights which before she had only touched in imagination. She felt
enough power in herself to move even such a mountain of obstinacy as
Kerr. She stole a look at him--a look of glad intelligence. He
understood as if she had spoken. They were to meet, while all the house
slept fast, to meet for his great renunciation. Then, in the morning,
when Harry was ready with whatever move he was holding back, Kerr would
be gone. There would be no Kerr--but she must not think of that! She
glanced at him again in the thick of the talk, and caught his eye upon
her, puzzled, and, she thought, with a glimmer of doubt.

She smiled; and smiled again at the ease with which she reassured him,
merely by looking at him. He should see, in the end, how true she could
be!

He was talking tremendously, flinging off fireworks of words, but she
was curiously aware that Mrs. Herrick and Harry were loo