fire. Our silent companion continued to embroider. "That girl," my
hostess resumed, "and her discreditable father played on my nephew's
youth and chivalry to the tune of--well, you have heard the tune."

"You mean--you mean--?" I couldn't quite take it in.

"Yes. They rattled their poverty at him until he offered and they
accepted."

I must have stared grotesquely now. "That--that--the cake--and that sort
of thing--at his expense?

"My dear sir, I shall be glad if you can find me anything that they have
ever done at their own expense!"

I doubt if she would ever have permitted her speech such freedom had not
the Rieppes been "from Georgia"; I am sure that it was anger--family
anger, race anger--which had broken forth; and I think that her silent,
severe sister scarcely approved of such breaking forth to me, a stranger.
But indignation had worn her reticence thin, and I had happened to press
upon the weak place. After my burst of exclamation I came back to it. "So
you think Miss Rieppe will get out of it?"

"It is my nephew who will 'get out of it,' as you express it."

I totally misunderstood her. "Oh!" I protested stupidly. "He doesn't look
like that. And it takes all meaning from the cake."

"Do not say cake to me again!" said the lady, smiling at last. "And--will
you allow me to tell you that I do not need to have my nephew, John