but as she continued she saw his face compose itself and his
blood subside.

"You're a brick, my dear!" he exclaimed.

"You had my word, you know."

"Yes; yes--I know." His face had clouded again. "And that's
all--positively all--you've ever said to him?"

"Positively all. But why do you ask?"

He had a moment's embarrassed hesitation. "It was
understood, wasn't it, that my grandmother was to be the
first to know?"

"Well--and so she has been, hasn't she, since you've told
her?"

He turned back to his restless shifting of the knick-knacks.

"And you're sure that nothing you've said to Darrow could
possibly have given him a hint----?"

"Nothing I've said to him--certainly."

He swung about on her. "Why do you put it in that way?"

"In what way?"