"You come right into my room," she said. "I don't dare stay up another minute. But I couldn't sleep if I tried, with a storm coming, and you can tell me all about it----" But when she was settled luxuriously once more among her pillows, and with Betty curled up at the foot of the bed, an awkward silence fell between them. At last Betty said, "Justin Ford was here. He's in love with me--Letty--but I sent him away----" "Why did you send him away?" "Because--because I'm not going to marry him, Letty----" "Why not----" "There's some one else. Some one who gave me these--Letty----" She lifted her left hand with its burden of sparkling jewels. "Who on earth?" Miss Matthews demanded. "Anthony." "Anthony _Blake_?" "Yes." Miss Matthews dropped back limply. "You'll have to tell me from the beginning," she said, faintly. "I can't quite grasp it----" And Bettina told--of her loneliness, of Anthony's wonderful offer, and of her glad acceptance of it. "Well, your mother would have been delighted," Miss Matthews said; "but somehow it doesn't seem right." "Why not----?" "Oh, I'd fixed it up that you were going to marry Justin Ford. Captain Stubbs and I watched you that day we went fishing, and if ever two young things seemed to be in love--well----" "I--we are in love, Letty." "Then why in the world are you going to marry Anthony Blake?" "Because I've promised--and I can't be like my--father. And I can't hurt Anthony--not when he has been so good to me." She was sobbing again, and into the eyes of the little woman who had never had a daughter came a look of motherly solicitude. "Dear child," she said, "if you are just going to marry Anthony Blake because you are grateful, don't you do it. No man wants a woman who feels that way--and you wouldn't make him happy----" "But--I've sent Justin away--and he's angry with me. That is why I was crying when you found me----" She was on her knees now beside the bed, and the old maid's arms were about her. "There--there, dearie, you've thought too much about it, and you've come to believe that it's the things you like to do which are wrong. And it's really the other way." Miss Matthews was thinking rapidly. There was some mystery. Anthony Blake was in love with Diana Gregory. He had always been in love with her. No one need try to tell her that he was not, for she _knew_. Then why was he engaged to Betty, and why had Diana gone away? She had a sudden inspiration. "Listen, Betty, there's just one person who can straighten things out, and that person is Diana Gregory. Men aren't any good at a time like this. They think with their heads, but women think with their hearts, and that's the kind of thinking that you need most now----" "But, Letty----" Miss Matthews waved her away. "You go and write to Diana and mail it to-night, and then come back and keep me company. I'm afraid of the storm."