Susan was all in a glow as her cousin answered, "I'll tell her." doubtless Sam didn't note it, but Susan heard the constraint, the hypocrisy in that sweet voice. She watched him stroll down to the gate under the arch of boughs dimly lit by the moon. She stretched her arms passionately toward him. Then she went in to go to bed. But at the sound of Ruth humming gayly in the next room, she realized that she could not sleep with her heart full of evil thoughts. She must have it out with her cousin. She knocked on the still bolted door. "What is it?" asked Ruth coldly. "Let me in," answered Susan. "I've got to see you." "Go to bed, Susie. It's late." "You must let me in." The bolt shot back. "All right. And please unhook my dress--there's a dear." Susan opened the door, stood on the threshold, all her dark passion in her face. "Ruth!" she cried. Ruth had turned her back, in readiness for the service the need of which had alone caused her to unbolt the door. At that swift, fierce ejaculation she started, wheeled round. At sight of that wild anger she paled. "Why, Susie!" she gasped. "I've found you out!" raged Susan. "You're trying to steal him from me--you and Aunt Fanny. It isn't fair! I'll not stand it!" "What _are_ you talking about?" cried Ruth. "You must have lost your senses." "I'll not stand it," Susan repeated, advancing threateningly "He loves me and I love him." Ruth laughed. "You foolish girl! Why, he cares nothing about you. The idea of your having your head turned by a little politeness!" "He loves me he told me so. And I love him. I told him so. He's mine! You shan't take him from me!" "He told you he loved you?" Ruth's eyes were gleaming and her voice was shrill with hate. "He told you _that_?" "Yes--he did!" "I don't believe you." "We love each other," cried the dark girl. "He came to see _me_. You've got Arthur Sinclair. You shan't take him away!" The two girls, shaking with fury, were facing each other, were looking into each other's eyes. "If Sam Wright told you he loved you," said Ruth, with the icy deliberateness of a cold-hearted anger, "he was trying to--to make a fool of you. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. _We_'re trying to save you." "He and I are engaged!" declared Susan. "You shan't take him--and you can't! He _loves_ me!" "Engaged!" jeered Ruth. "Engaged!" she laughed, pretending not to believe, yet believing. She was beside herself with jealous anger. "Yes--we'll save you from yourself. You're like your mother. You'd disgrace us--as she did." "Don't you dare talk that way, Ruth Warham. It's false--_false_! My mother is dead--and you're a wicked girl."