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She nodded, but with her gaze still upon the ground

"Miss Naida," he said, "it would be cowardly for e

this issue between us Is it because you do not likeher flushed face

"Oh, no, no! you irl of

moods; under those vines I had one mood, in the hall another Cannot

you understand?"

"Very little," he admitted, "for I amwill than that you are swayed by ht that a mere senseless ht, I should feel justified in yielding

to a mood also But I will not lower you to that extent in my

estimation; I prefer to believe that you are the true-hearted, frankly

spoken girl of the vine shadow It is this abiding conviction as to

your true nature which holds me loyal to a test Miss Naida, is it now

your desire that I leave you?"

He stepped aside, relinquishing her arm, his hat in hand, but she did