I drew nearer, impatiently; and was conscious that

four other young men in white waistcoats and gloves

quite as irreproachable as my own stood ready to claim

her the instant she was free. I did not propose to be

thwarted by the beaux of Cincinnati, so I stepped toward

Doctor Armstrong.

"I beg your pardon, Doctor-," I said with an assurance

for which I blush to this hour.

"All right, my boy; I, too, have been in Arcady!" he

exclaimed in cheerful apology, and she put her hand

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on my arm and I led her away.

"He called me 'my boy,' so I must be passing muster,"

I remarked, not daring to look at her.

"He's afraid not to recognize you. His inability to

remember faces is a town joke."

We reached a quiet corner of the great hall and I

found a seat for her.

"You don't seem surprised to see me,-you knew I

would come. I should have come across the world for

this,-for just this."

Her eyes were grave at once.

"Why did you come? I did not think you were so

foolish. This is all-so wretched,-so unfortunate. You

didn't know that Mr. Pickering-Mr. Pickering-"

She was greatly distressed and this name came from

her chokingly.

"Yes; what of him?" I laughed. "He is well on his

way to California,-and without you!"

She spoke hurriedly, eagerly, bending toward me.

"No-you don't know-you don't understand-he's

here; he abandoned his California trip at Chicago; he

telegraphed me to expect him-here-to-night! You

must go at once,-at once!"

"Ah, but you can't frighten me," I said, trying to

realize just what a meeting with Pickering in that house

might mean.

"No,"-she looked anxiously about,-"they were to

arrive late, he and the Taylors; they know the Armstrongs

quite well. They may come at any moment

now. Please go!"

"But I have only a few minutes myself,-you

wouldn't have me sit them out in the station down

town? There are some things I have come to say, and

Arthur Pickering and I are not afraid of each other!"

"But you must not meet him here! Think what that

would mean to me! You are very foolhardy, Mr. Glenarm.

I had no idea you would come-"

"But you wished to try me,-you challenged me."

"That wasn't me,-it was Olivia," she laughed, more

at ease, "I thought-"

"Yes, what did you think?" I asked. "That I was

tied hand and foot by a dead man's money?"

"No, it wasn't that wretched fortune; but I enjoyed

playing the child before you-I really love Olivia-and

it seemed that the fairies were protecting me and that

I could play being a child to the very end of the chapter

without any real mischief coming of it. I wish

I were Olivia!" she declared, her eyes away from me.




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