Alix was still looking at her, broodingly. "Why don't you like him, Aunt Nancy?" "Have I ever said I didn't like him?" "No. But I know. I know that Charlie Webster does not like him. I knew that Addison did not like him." Mrs. Strong could not resist the impulse to add: "And Sergeant did not like him." "And you think THAT convicts him?" said the girl, half ironically. "I have a good deal of faith in dogs," muttered Mrs. Strong, flushing. Alix's gaze went to the huge vase of roses on the table. Then she turned quickly to look once more into her companion's eyes. "You believe that Courtney poisoned him, don't you?" "I have no more reason for believing it than you have, Alix," returned Mrs. Strong calmly. "Why,--why do you say that?" cried the girl, startled. "Because you would not have asked the question if you hadn't been--well, wondering a little yourself, Alix." "Oh,--I don't want to think it," cried Alix miserably. "I don't want to think of it!" "No more do I want to think it. Listen to me, Alix. I confess that I do not like this man. I have no way of explaining my feeling toward him. He has always been polite and agreeable to me. He has never done a thing that I can call to mind that would set me against him. Maybe it's because he is not of my world, because he comes from a big city, because deep in his heart he probably looks down on us Hoosiers. I will go farther, Alix, and say that I do not trust him. That is a nasty thing to say. It is none of my business, but I--I wish you did not like him so well, Alix." "It would appear that my friends are taking more than an ordinary interest in my welfare," said Alix slowly, and with some bitterness. "Is it possible that you all believe me incapable of taking care of myself?" "Smarter women than you, Alix Crown, have been fooled by men," said the other sententiously. "Oh, I don't mean the way you think, my child,--so don't glare at me like that. I know you can take care of yourself THAT way,--but how about falling in love? And getting married? And finding out afterward that roses don't grow on cactus plants? That's how women are fooled,--and you're no different from the rest of us." "I think,--I am quite sure that he is in love with me, Aunt Nancy," said Alix, somewhat irrelevantly. There was no sign of gladness, however, nor of triumph, in her dark, brooding eyes. "That's easy to understand. The point is, Alix,--are you in love with him?" Alix did not answer at once. The little frown in her eyes deepened. "I don't think so, Aunt Nancy," she said at last. "I don't believe it is love. That is what troubles me so. It is something I cannot understand. I don't know what has come over me. I will be honest with you,--and with myself. I do not really trust him. I don't believe he is all that he claims to be. And yet,--and yet, Aunt Nancy, I,--I--"