elusively, ambiguously. "And what's more, you wouldn't believe me if
I told you."

"How do you know?" he rejoined.

"You didn't believe me once before; and this is so much more
incredible."

He took the taunt full in the face. "I shall go away unhappy unless
you tell me--but then perhaps I have deserved to," he confessed.

She shook her head again, advancing toward the door with the evident
intention of bringing their conference to a close; but on the
threshold she paused to launch her reply.

"I can't send you away unhappy, since it is in the contemplation of
your happiness that I have found my reward."






IX





The next day Durham left with his family for England, with the