Everet devoted himself exclusively to Miss Loring, much to that young lady’s secret delight; her father gave his attention entirely to the stage, thus leaving Geoffrey and Gladys to themselves. “What is it, dear? what has troubled you?” Geoffrey asked, bending tenderly toward his betrothed, as he became more conscious of the difficulty she was laboring under to retain her composure. Gladys stole one little hand confidingly into his, under cover of her opera cloak. “Never mind, Geoff, now that I have you here; I will tell you some other time,” she whispered, as she involuntarily turned her still flashing eyes toward young Mapleson, while a slight shiver ran through her frame. Geoffrey’s glance followed hers, and his face clouded. “Has he dared——” he began, sternly. “Hush!” she returned; “it is all past; he will never dare again.” She saw that Geoffrey needed but a word to make him demand an explanation of his rival, and she feared the worst from a meeting between them; so she resolved that she would not tell him what Everet had told her regarding his parentage; at least, not until after their marriage; perhaps, when they were on the ocean, where it would be impossible for him to take any aggressive measures until time had served to cool his anger, she might reveal to him what she had learned. So she tried to smile and appear interested in the opera, while every moment she wished it would end so that she might be released from that terrible constraint. It was over at last, to her intense relief. Everet Mapleson escorted Miss Loring from the building, but when the party reached the sidewalk they found such a crowd before them that they were obliged to step back and wait for it to disperse before they could get to their carriage. In doing this, Everet Mapleson had managed so that he should stand close beside Gladys, for he had determined to fire a parting shot at her. He had been covertly watching her ever since their interview, and her attitude of trust and confidence toward Geoffrey had been almost maddening to him. She was beautiful beyond comparison when she faced him in her indignation, defending her absent lover, and resenting the insult offered to herself; he had never seen her so spirited before, and it lent an added charm to her fascinations, while he was filled with impotent rage that he was powerless to awaken any feelings in her heart for him, save those of scorn and contempt.