“We ought,” said the King of the Street grimly, pausing in the doorway, “but things don't always happen as they ought.” As I remembered that if things had happened as they ought Doddridge Knapp would be in jail, I gave a hearty assent to the proposition as the door closed behind my retreating employer. CHAPTER XX MAKING PROGRESS “You really don't mean it,” said Luella severely, “and it's very wrong to say what you don't mean.” “In society?” I asked blandly. “I'm afraid you're a heretic, L---- Miss Knapp.” I blushed as I stumbled over her name. She was Luella to me by night and day, but I did not consider myself on a footing to use so thrilling a word in her presence. “Don't be rude,” she said. “Everything has its place in society.” “Even prevarication,” I assented. “Even a polite consideration for the feelings of others,” corrected Luella. “Then you might have some consideration for mine,” I said in an injured tone. “But we're not in society,--not just now, that is to say. We're just friends talking together, and you're not to say what you don't mean just for the sake of pleasing my vanity.” “Well, if we're just friends talking together--” said I, looking up in her face. I was seated on the footstool before her, and it was very entertaining to look at her face, so I stopped at that. “Yes,” said Luella, bending forward in her interest. “It was the bravest and truest and most womanly girl I ever knew or heard of. It's the kind a man would be glad to die for.” I really couldn't help it. Her hand lay very temptingly near me, and I don't think I knew what I was doing till she said: “Please let go of my hand.” “But he'd rather live for her,” I continued boldly. “If you don't behave yourself, I'll surrender you to Aunt Julia,” said Luella, rising abruptly and slipping to the curtains of the alcove in which we were sitting. She looked very graceful and charming as she stood there with one hand raised to the lace folds. “Has she recovered?” I asked. “What a melancholy tone! The poor dear was in bed all Tuesday, but she took advantage of her rest to amplify her emotions.” “She has acquired a subject of conversation, at least.” “To last her for the rest of her life,” laughed Luella, turning back. “'Twill be a blood-curdling tale by the time she reaches the East once more. And now do be sensible--no, you sit right where you are--and tell me how it all happened, and what it was about.” I revolved for a moment the plan of a romance that would have, at least, the merit of chaining Miss Knapp's interest. But it was gone as I looked into her serious eyes. “That's what I should like to know myself,” I confessed candidly. Then I added with pardonable mendacity: “I think I must have been taken for somebody else, if it was anything more than a desperate freak of the highbinders.” “Are you sure they had no interest in seeking you?” asked Luella gravely, with a charming tremor in her voice.