Jean turned a sick face upon him, but Paul's own countenance was without guile. "I've overheard you and Amy mention her once or twice," he explained. "Yes," she stammered. "We both knew her there." "Out of breath?" he said, still too observant. "I thought we were taking our usual gait." She blamed the heat and led him to speak of other things, but the day was spoiled. She debated seriously whether it were not wise to make a clean breast of her refuge history, but Paul's belief in her unworldliness had its sweetness, and the fit chance to dispel his illusion somehow had not come when Stella, for weeks almost forgotten, so involved the coil that frankness was impossible. XV Motley as were the dental company's patrons, Jean never entertained the possibility of Stella's crossing the threshold, till her coming was an accomplished fact. Luckily she happened to be elsewhere in the office when the bell warned her that some one had entered, and she was able, accordingly, to sight the caller with her admiring gaze fixed upon the slave girl. Her own retreat was instant and blind, and by a spiteful chance took her full tilt into the arms of Paul. "What's up?" he demanded, holding her fast. "What's happened to you?" She was dumb before his questions. He noticed her pallor and helped her into the nearest operating-chair. "There is a patient waiting," she got out at last. "You're the first patient," he said; and brought smelling-salts, which he administered with a liberal hand. "You girls eat a roll for breakfast and a chocolate caramel for lunch, and then wonder why you faint." She finally persuaded him to leave her on her promising that she would not stir till his return, and he went in her stead to receive Stella, whom he brought to a room so near that almost every word was audible. Stella had evidently visited the parlors before. She addressed Paul familiarly as "Doc," spoke of other work he had done for her, and lingered to make conversation after he had fixed an appointment. The dentist's responses were cool and perfunctory, and in leaving she chaffed him on having lost his old-time sociability. He returned with a red face to find Jean outwardly herself. "Better?" he said awkwardly. "Much better." Paul fidgeted with the mechanism of the chair. "As long as you're O.K. now," he went on, "I'm not sorry you missed that party. That's the worst of Grimes. He caters to all sorts. You heard her talk, I suppose?" "Yes." He furtively studied her face. "I hope you don't think we're as friendly as she made out?" "Oh, no." Paul looked greatly relieved. "I bank a lot on what you think," he said. "You're the kind of girl who makes a fellow want to toe the mark." "Don't," she entreated, writhing under his praise. "You rate me too high."