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The silence was intense He turned draraceful salute as he bowed

"I ask you, sir, to lend a gentle judg that ain he bowed profoundly, hand on hilt, a perfect figure of faultless courtesy, graceful, co pride

Then he slowly raised his dark head and looked at me "Mr Renault," he said, "it is my misfortune that our paths have crossed three times I trust they cross no more, but may run hereafter in pleasant parallel I was hasty, I rong to judge you by what you said concerning the Oneidas I am impatient, over-sensitive, quick to fire at what I dee I serve hi with resentn, I searched your cha the Oneidas of their co punishment How can you bla else?"

"I do not blame you, Captain Butler," I said disdainfully

"Thenas it was full of profit to myself?"

"Time heals--but Ti him

His stealthy eyes dropped as he inclined his head in acquiescence

Then Sir Peter spoke, frankly, i ever to his reason; and what he said was a on his own And she, too, spoke graciously but gravely, with a gentle ad at the end

But when he turned to Elsin Grey, she softened nothing, and her gesture committed him to silence while she spoke: "End nohat you have said so well, nor add one word to that delicate pyrah to your own honor, Captain Butler I am sloitted and must ask advice from that physician, Time, whom Mr Renault, too, has called in council"

"Am I, then, banished?" he asked below his breath

"Ask yourself, Mr Butler And if you find no reply, then I shall answer you"

All eyes were on her What le night! Where had vanished that vague roundness of cheek and chin in this drawn beauty of maturity? that untroubled eye, that indecision of caprice, that char restlessness, that childish confidence in others, accepting as a creed what grave lips uttered as a guidance to the lesser years that rested lightly on her?