He stopped short, looking from the letters to her and back again. Barbara shrank away, drawing herself together, but she resolutely fixed her eyes upon his face. "Why--why--" stammered Harding, turning as pale as death, and then he dropped into a chair and began to laugh. The letter that lay nearest to him was directed "R. Harding, Esq." in his own handwriting. "It is my fault!" cried Barbara. "Tell me what I have done! It is something that matters very much! I knew it--I felt it was, the moment I found them. I came with them directly--I was so afraid you might have gone away. Don't laugh! Oh I know it matters dreadfully!" Harding had had time to master himself. "On the contrary," he said, "it doesn't matter at all." He threw himself back in his chair, tilting it carelessly, and looking at Barbara. "Doesn't it?" said the girl incredulously. "Doesn't it really?" "Not a bit; why should it? How did it happen?" Since everything was lost, he might as well hear her talk. "It was my fault," Barbara repeated, still doubtfully. "I told you to put them on the hall table--it was the day we had those people to dinner." Reynold nodded. "I had my apron on, I was busy. I went out to speak to the gardener, and I thought I would give them to the boy, so I put them in my apron pocket, yours and one of mine, and I never thought of them again." He had balanced his chair very dexterously, and was still looking at her. "And they have been in that little apron pocket of yours ever since! Dear me, Miss Strange, I hope yours wasn't an important letter. I'm sorry for your correspondent." "No, mine didn't matter. Mr. Harding, tell me about yours--tell me the truth! All the time I have been waiting here--and I thought you never _would_ come!--I have felt more and more sure that yours _did_ matter. I can't tell why, but I am certain. Let me know the worst, please. Tell me what I have done!" "I don't know why you are so determined that you must have done something dreadful. I assure you I'm not in the habit of writing such terribly important letters as you seem to suppose."