"You are right," she said. "I understand that the Count is only acting according to the standards he's been brought up to. May hasn't that consolation. I'm sure I don't see, if you don't mind my saying so, on what ground she is going to contrive any sort of an excuse for her husband." "She'll undoubtedly be so fond of him," Jack retorted with unabashed good-nature, "that it won't occur to her that he needs an excuse. May hasn't your Puritanical notions, you know. Really, I might be afraid of her if she had." It was a game in which the man is always the superior of the woman. Women will more cleverly and readily dissemble to the world, but to the loved one they are less easily mocking and insincere than men. Alice, however, was plucky, and she made one attempt more. "Of course May might admire you on the score of filial obedience. It isn't every son who would allow his mother to arrange his marriage for him." "No," Jack responded with a chuckle, "you're right there. I am a model son." She stopped suddenly, and turned on the sidewalk in quick vehemence. "Oh, stop talking to me!" she cried. "I will go into the first house I know if you keep on this way! You've no right to torment me so!" The angry tears were in her eyes, and her face was drawn with her effort to sustain the self-control which had so nearly broken down. His expression lost its roguishness, and in his turn he became grave. "No," he said half-bitterly, "perhaps not. Of course I haven't; but it is something of a temptation when you are so determined to believe the worst of me." She regarded him in bewilderment. "Determined to believe the worst?" she echoed. "Aren't you engaged to May Calthorpe?" He took off his hat, and made her a profound and mocking bow. "I apparently have that honor," he said. "Then why am I not to believe it?" He looked at her a moment as if about to explain, then with the air of finding it hopeless he set his lips together. "If you will tell me what you mean," Alice went on, "I may understand. As it is I have your own word that you are engaged; you certainly do not pretend that you care for May; and you know that your mother made the match. You may be sure, Jack," she added, her voice softening a little only to harden again, "that if there were any way of excusing you I should have found it out. I'm still foolish enough to cling to old friendship." His glance softened, and he regarded her with a look under which she changed color and drew away from him. "Dear Alice," he said, "you always were a brick." She answered only by a startled look. Then before he could be aware of her intention she had run lightly up the steps of a house and rung the bell. He looked after her in amazement, then followed. "Alice," he said, "what are you darting off in that way for?" "I have talked with you as long as I care to," she responded, the color in her cheeks, and her head held high. "I am going in here to see Mrs. West. You had better go and cheer up May."