Farvel seemed to sense a falsehood. "You can't convince me," he said. "You've known the truth all along--ever since she went away. And you know why she went.--Don't you? _Don't_ you?" Again his voice rose. He advanced almost threateningly. "No! No! I swear it!" "No!" echoed Clare. "This is disgraceful!" cried Mrs. Milo, appealing to Balcome. "Oh, go home, mother!" entreated her son, ungratefully. Sue added her plea. "Yes, let's all go. Because you're all speaking pretty loud, and our hostess is a lady of considerable curiosity. Come--let's return to the Rectory." "Susan!" stormed Mrs. Milo. Then, more quietly, "Please think of your mother's wishes. Mr. Farvel and Mr. Balcome are right. Let us clear up this matter before we return." Clare burst into a loud laugh. "Ha-a-a! Talk about curiosity!" she mocked. And went back to her chair. Sue reddened under the taunt. "Well, I, for one, don't wish to know your private affairs," she declared. "So I'm going." "Susan!--You may leave the room if you desire to do so. But you will remain within call." "I'd rather go home, mother." "You will obey me." "Very well." "Mm!" Mrs. Milo, plainly gratified, seated herself in the rocker. "If there's anything I can do for you, Miss Crosby, just ask me." Sue forbore looking at Farvel. She was pale again now, as if with weariness. But she smiled. Clare did not even look round. Beside her was the canary, his shining black eyes keeping watch on the group of strangers as he darted from cage bottom to perch, or hung, fluttering and apprehensive, against the wires of his home. Clare lifted the cage to her knee and encircled it with an arm. Balcome caught Sue's eye, made a comical grimace, and patted her on the arm. "As this seems to concern my girl," he explained, "I'm here to stay." He dropped into a chair by the hearth. Sue went out. Clare was quite herself by now. She disdained to look at anyone save Farvel, and the smile she gave him over a shoulder was scornful. "Well, shoot!" she challenged. "Let's not take all day." "Why did you leave without a word?" he asked. "You mean today?--I told you." "I mean ten years ago." "Well, if you want to know, I was tired of being cooped up, so I dug out." "Cooped up!" exclaimed Farvel, bitterly. "I guess you know it! And Church! Church! Church! And prayers three times a day! And a small town! Oh, it was _deadly_!" "No other reason?" asked Farvel, coldly. She got up, suddenly impatient. "I've told you the truth!" she cried. Then more quietly, seeing how white and drawn he looked, "I'm sorry it worried you." She set the cage on a chair near the double door. "Worried!" echoed Farvel, bitterly. "Ha! ha!" And with significance, "And who was concerned in your going?" "That's a nice thing for you to insinuate!" she returned hotly. "I beg your pardon."