unreasonably rude and imperious, in the next gracious and
imploring.

"Forgive me," she cried, the blue eyes battling bravely against
the steel in the grey ones above. "I was so uncivil! Perhaps I
cannot make you understand why I spoke as I did, but, let me say,
I richly deserved the rebuke. Pray forgive me and forget that I
have been disagreeable. Do not ask me to tell you why I was so
rude to you just now, but overlook my unkind treatment of your
invitation. Please, Mr. Lorry, I beg of you--I beg for the first
time in my life. You have been so good to me; be good to me
still."

His wrath melted away like snow before the sunshine. How could
he resist such an appeal? "I beg for the first time in my life,"
whirled in his brain. What did she mean by that?

"I absolve the penitent," he said, gravely.

"I thank you. You are still my ideal American--courteous, bold
and gentle. I do not wonder that Americans can be masterful men.
And now I thank you for your invitation, and ask you to let me
withdraw my implied refusal. If you will take me for the drive,
I shall be delighted and more than grateful."

"You make me happy again," he said, softly, as they drew near the
elder members of the party, who had paused to wait for them. "I
shall ask your uncle and aunt to accompany us."

"Uncle Caspar will be busy all day, but I am sure my aunt will be