room had faithfully reflected the suggestive little pantomime. He saw
and understood all in a flash.

No words could have so plainly told her feeling toward him, and he was
one of those reptiles that could sting remorselessly in revenge. The
nature of the imposition practiced upon him, and the fact that it was
partially successful and might have been wholly so, cut him in the
sorest spot. He who thought himself able to cope with the shrewdest
and most artful had been overreached by a girl, and he saw at that
moment that her purpose to beguile him long enough for Mr. Allen to
extricate himself from his difficulties might have been successful. He
had had before an uneasy consciousness that he ought to act
decisively, and now he knew it.

"I'm a fool--a cursed fool," he muttered, speaking the truth for once,
"but it's not too late yet."

His resolution was taken instantly, but when Edith appeared after a
moment in the library, smiling and affable again, lie seemed in good
spirits also, but there was a steely, serpent-like glitter in his
eyes, that made him more repulsive than ever. But he stayed as late as
the others, knowing that it might be his last evening at the Allens'.
For Edith had said as part of her plan for avoiding Mr. Fox:

"We shall be too busy to see any company till Tuesday evening, and
then we hope to see you all."

Her sisters had assented, expecting that it would be the case.

With a refinement of malice, Mr. Fox sought to give general annoyance,