of surrender, and, at Kate's side in an instant she hastened to temper her
triumph with magnanimity.

"Don't think I don't feel with you; but we must both forget ourselves for
our boy's sake. I told him I should come back with your promise."

The arm she had slipped about Kate's shoulder fell back with the girl's
start. Kate had seen in a flash what capital would be made of her emotion.

"No, no, you misunderstand me. I can make no promise," she declared.

The older lady sat a moment irresolute; then she restored her arm to the
shoulder from which it had been so abruptly displaced.

"My dear child," she said, in a tone of tender confidence, "if I have
misunderstood you, ought you not to enlighten me? You asked me just now
if Denis had given me your reason for this strange postponement. He gave
me one reason, but it seems hardly sufficient to explain your conduct.
If there is any other,--and I know you well enough to feel sure there
is,--will you not trust me with it? If my boy has been unhappy enough to
displease you, will you not give his mother the chance to plead his cause?
Remember, no one should be condemned unheard. As Denis's mother, I have the
right to ask for your reason."

"My reason? My reason?" Kate stammered, panting with the exhaustion of the
struggle. Oh, if only Mrs. Peyton would release her! "If you have the right
to know it, why doesn't he tell you?" she cried.

Mrs. Peyton stood up, quivering. "I will go home and ask him," she said. "I
will tell him he had your permission to speak."