ith muscular fingers.

"Not here," he whispered urgently. "She is tired--upset. There is
nothing really the matter."

But Fisher resisted the impulsive grip.

"I will talk to you presently," he said. "You clear out!"

He pushed past Charlie and went straight to the girl. His jaw was set
with a determination that would have astonished most of his friends.

"What is it, Molly?" he said, halting close beside her. "What is wrong,
child?"

But Molly could not tell him. She turned towards him indeed, laying an
imploring hand on his arm; but she kept her face hidden and uttered no
word.

It was Charlie who plunged recklessly into the opening breach--plunged
with a wholesale gallantry, regardless of everything but the moment's
emergency.

"It's my doing, Fisher," he declared, his voice shaking a little. "I've
been making an ass of myself. It was, partly your fault, too--yours and
Bertie's. Let her go! I'll explain."

He was excited and he spoke quickly, but his eyes were very steady.

"Molly," he said, "you go upstairs! You've got to dress, you know, and
you'll be late. I'll make it all right. Don't you worry yourself!"

Molly lifted a perfectly white face and looked at Fisher. She met his
eyes, struggled with herself a moment, then with quivering lips turned
slowly away. He did not try to stop her. He realised that Charlie must
be disposed of before he attempted to extract an explanation from her.

Charlie sprang to the door, shut it hastily after her, and turned the
key.

"Now!" he said, and, wheeling, marched straight back to Fisher and
halted before him. "You want an explanation. You shall have one. You
gave my show away this afternoon. You made her imagine that in taking me
for an ordinary--or perhaps I should say a rather extraordinary--fool
she had done me an injustice. She came in her sweetness and told me she
was sorry. And I--forgot myself, and said things that made her cry. That
is the whole matter."

"What did you say to her?" demanded Fisher.

"I'm not going to tell you."

"You shall tell me!" said Fisher.

He took a step forward, all the hidden force in him risen to the
surface.

Charlie faced him for a second with his head flung defiantly back, then,
as Fisher laid a powerful hand on his shoulder, he stuck his hands in
his pockets and smiled a little.

"No, old chap," he said. "I'll apologise to you, if you like. But you
haven't any right to ask for more."

"I have a right to know why w