"I should decline to explain," said the Governor. "Such would be your privilege. I admit the matter (as it appears now) is purely one of ethics, and expediency--and there are things to be said on both sides." "How would you decide it, Maynadier?" "I do not know--I am glad it is not necessary that I decide it." Colonel Sharpe flung his pipe on the table, scattering the hot ashes broadcast. "Damn it! Maynadier, I do not know what to do!" he exclaimed. "I shall put it off until morning; sleep, sometimes, solves problems." Maynadier arose. "And Miss Stirling," he said--"she will not disclose what is in the letter?" "No--but to make sure, I will caution her, at once," and, seizing his cane, he hurried out. "Where have you been, sir?" Miss Marbury inquired, as Maynadier came face to face with her in the drawing-room doorway. "Not where I wanted to be," he said. "And where is that?" "Where I am, now." "A very pretty place," she answered, with a glance around; "but I should think one, out of doors on such a night, were vastly preferable." "With you in it?" he asked. She seemed to hesitate, watching him, the while, through half-closed eyes. "If you wish, sir--wait until I get a fan.... Now, I am ready." "I may select the place?" he said. "You may," laughing; "will it be in the centre of the party, or just to one side?" "A little to one side," he answered--"by as far as the Bay is from the house." "Goodness, Dick, you are growing very venturesome--next you will be inviting me to go where Sir Edward----" "Yes," he said--"where Sir Edward?" "No--no, that would be telling." "You used to tell me everything," he said. "Yes--before I grew up and put on the ways of society." "And how long _has_ that been?" "Since the last night of the party at Hedgely Hall," she answered. "You mean, since you saw me kiss Miss Stirling?" "Perhaps." "It was a mistake, I admit it!" "A mistake to be caught?" she laughed. "I grant it." "Yes--a mistake to be caught--and a mistake to kiss her." "Only when you have been caught! No! no! Dick, you cannot make me think it ever a mistake to kiss a pretty girl--and the girl be willing." "You have learned the ways of society very thoroughly." "I have had excellent teachers." "Teachers?" he inflected--"there have been more than myself?" "Monsieur! am I a pretty girl? Think you that I have never been--that no one has ever wanted to kiss me?" "You cannot do it, Judith!" he laughed. "Cannot do what?" "Make me believe that any one ever----" "Wanted to kiss me? Thank you, Mr. Maynadier!" with a toss of her head. "No, that any one ever kissed you--until this moment." And straightway he took her in his arms. She pushed him from her, at last, and sprang back. "Just what do you mean, sir?" she demanded--"just what do you mean?" She was making a desperate effort to appear indignant. "Mean?" he exclaimed, "you know what it means! Judith, you love me, don't you, sweetheart?"