I do not want to talk about it again." Lois went silently out of the room, her heart overflowing with love for her cousin, and added rage at the man who had come between them.

She found Gifford walking about in the hall down-stairs, and, forgetful of her father's injunction, she went quickly up to him, trembling with excitement, and half sobbing.
"Giff--oh, Giff--that man, that John Ward, has sent Helen back! She's here--she can't go home!" Gifford was too astounded to speak.
"Yes," Lois cried, clinging to his arm, her eyes overflowing, "he is a wicked man--he is cruel--and she thinks I am, Giff, just because I said he was!" Lois's agitation drove him into his most deliberate speech.
"What do you mean?
I do not understand." "Of course not! Nobody could think of anything so awful.

Come into the library, and I'll tell you.

Father does not want it spoken of, Gifford, but since you know she's here, I might as well explain." The room was deserted, except for Max, who was stretched on the cool hearthstones; it was full of dusky shadows lurking in the wainscoted corners; the outside shutters were bowed, and only two thin streaks of sunshine traveled in from the warm sweet garden outside.

Some roses in a bowl on the table filled the air with fragrance.
Lois hurried nervously through the story, breaking into angry grief that John Ward should have made Helen angry at her.