properly reflect the state of my feeling at all--and you hear me
without the least emotion; so long as I keep my distance we might
just as well be discussing the weather!"

"You are very good about that--"

"Keeping my distance, you mean?--Betty, if you knew how much
resolution that calls for! I wonder if that isn't my mistake--"
And Norton came a step nearer and took her in his arms.

With her hands on his shoulders Betty pushed him back, while the
rich color came into her cheeks. She was remembering Bruce
Carrington, who had not kept his distance.

"Please, Charley," she said half angrily, "I do like you
tremendously, but I simply can't bear you when you act like this
--let me got"

"Betty, I despair of you ever caring for me!" and as Norton
turned abruptly away he saw Tom Ware appear from about a corner
of the house. "Oh, hang it, there's Tom!"

"You are very nice, anyway, Charley--" said Betty hurriedly,
fortified by the planter's approach.

Ware stalked toward them. Having dined with Betty as recently as
the day before, he contented himself with a nod in her direction.
His greeting to Norton was a more ambitious undertaking; he said
he was pleased to see him; but in so far as facial expression
might have indorsed the statement this pleasure was well