I've no doubt you do what you think the best for her. I should feel
it a kindness if you would just tell me whether you are really
persuading her to think no more about me.'

It was an alarming challenge. Emmeline's fears returned; she half
expected an outbreak of violence. The man was growing very nervous,
and his muscles showed the working of strong emotion.

'I have given her no such advice, Mr. Cobb,' she answered, with an
attempt at calm dignity. 'Miss Derrick's private affairs don't at
all concern me. In such matters as this she is really quite old
enough to judge for herself.'

'That's what _I_ should have said,' remarked Mr. Cobb sturdily. 'I
hope you'll excuse me; I don't wish to make myself offensive. After
what she said to me when we met last, I suppose most men would just
let her go her own way. But--but somehow I can't do that. The thing
is, I can't trust what she says; I don't believe she knows her own
mind. And so long as you tell me that you're not interfering--I
mean, that you don't think it right to set her against me--'

'I assure you, nothing of the kind.'

There was a brief silence, then Cobb's voice again sounded with
blunt emphasis.

'We're neither of us very good-tempered. We've known each other
about a year, and we must have quarrelled about fifty times.'

'Do you think, then,' ventured the hostess, 'that it would ever be