affairs of the heart.  It angers me that she must play with that fellow for financial reasons, and that he, conscious of power, may use language which she would not dare to resent.  I can’t imagine Madge in such a position.  Yet, who knows?  As the French say, ’It is the unexpected that happens,’ and this has proved true enough in my experience.  I’ll go and see how Madge is now, and be as penitent as she requires.  I don’t mind being tyrannized over a little by such a girl;” and he returned.

As he approached Mrs. Muir’s door he heard the sound of voices and laughter, and plainly those of his brother and Madge.  In response to his knock Mrs. Muir opened the door a little way, and he caught a glimpse of Henry.

“Well?” said Mrs. Muir.

“It’s not well at all,” he began, in an aggrieved tone.  “Here’s a family party, and I’m shut out in outer darkness.  What have I done to be banished from Rome?”

“‘What’s banished but set free?’” trilled out Madge.  “Oh, Graydon, I’m not fit to be seen!”

“How can I know that unless I see you?”

“Nonsense, Madge!” expostulated her sister, “you look charming.  Why put on airs?  As he says, it’s a family party.  Let him join in our fun;” and, without waiting for further objections, she brought him in and gave him a chair.

“Now this warms an exile’s heart,” he began.  “If you had shut the door on me I should have asked Henry to send me back to Europe.  Mary’s right, Madge; you do look charming.”

And so she did, blushing and laughing in her dainty wrapper, with her long hair falling over her shoulders and fastened by a ribbon.

“How comes it that you are in such a deserted and disconsolate condition?” cried Mary.

“I am not in such a condition.  Since crossing your threshold I have become contentment itself.  Indeed, I regard myself as the most favored man in the house, for I, first of all, am able to lay my homage at Madge’s feet.”

“Let me warn you from the start that it will prove a stumbling-block in both our paths,” said the girl.  “Did you not receive my message?  But, then, it’s stupid to think you will ever consider me.”

“I have been considering you a great deal more than you think, especially since you metaphorically boxed my ears this morning, and took away my breath generally this afternoon.”

“You seem to have plenty left.”

“Oh, I’m recovering.  Reason is trying to scramble back on her throne.  I’ve been out to the lake alone in the moonlight, and have had the whole scene over again, to assure myself that it was real.”

“What!  You have not been in the water?”

“No; I was content to moon it out on the shore; but it seemed to me that I saw you as clearly there as here.”

“Little wonder!  I must have been the most extraordinary looking creature that ever prowled in these wilds.”

“You were; only lookers-on did all the devouring.  I wouldn’t dare tell you the compliments I have heard.”