I shall not forget often, especially now that I am among these murderous fanatics.

But I was tired to-night, and I was so glad when I knew I could talk to you freely." Her eyes were upon me in friendly unreserve, in confident appeal.
In the face of what I should have felt, I was ashamed at that moment, and in the nervousness of hidden guilt I handled the minute coffee cup awkwardly.

Clem, who must have been equally nervous, stepped to right the thing in its saucer, with "Yes, seh, Mahstah Majah!" From across the table I knew, without raising my eyes, that his mistress glanced up at Clem in quick astonishment, then that her eyes were fastened upon my face.

I still regarded the coffee interestedly, but I knew that I myself blushed now and I suspected that my hostess was pale.
"Major ?" she began questioningly, then more decidedly, "_Major_ Blake ?" I raised my eyes to hers and nodded idiotically.
She laughed a little laugh that was icy in its politeness.
"How stupid of me, and now I must ask your pardon for all my tirade, for my blasphemies, and for that monstrous toast I--really--" She shot a look at Clem, under which he blanched visibly, then her eyes were again upon me and she smiled with a rare art.
"Really, you will overlook an old woman's weakness." It was the inimical, remote, icy superiority of her tone that nettled me--perhaps her implied assumption that I would not know it for such.
But also I felt curiously stricken by that swift withdrawal of her confidence, for Mrs.Caroline Lansdale had won me by her laugh and blush of ancient girlishness.

Further, I would not now be hurt by any woman, though she were ten times my years, without a show of defence.
I arose as Clem hastily fled from the room.
"Miss Caroline--" I waited for the fine little brows to go up at that.