Knight was well-nigh delirious. It was not often that she could
roll two such delicious morsels under her tongue, and she patently
gloried in the opportunity for gossip. She ended a period of
chatter by saying:

"It just goes to show that a girl must be careful. If Lilas had
behaved herself she'd have been married and rich like you. Oh, I
can't believe it has come true! Think of it yourself, dearie; I--
I'm nearly out of my head." She dabbed at her moistening eyes,
becoming more and more excited as she dwelt upon the family's
sudden rise to affluence. She was still rejoicing garrulously when
Lorelei burst into one of her rare passions of weeping and buried
her face in her hands. "Child alive!" cried her astonished mother.
"What ails you?"

Instantly Jim's suspicions caught fire.

"Say! Has Bob welched?" he demanded, harshly.

The amber head shook in negation.

"Isn't he--nice to you?" quavered Mrs. Knight.

"Yes. But--I'm sorry I did it. He was drinking; he didn't know
what he was doing--"

"Hush!" Mrs. Knight cast a fearful glance over her shoulder. "It
was all straight and aboveboard, and he knew perfectly well what
he was about. Jim would swear to it."