So long as he made love to her she understood; this bit of bravado disturbed and baffled her. But here at least was something that required prompt commendation, and while she had been better satisfied by the first direction of his talk, here was a zone of safety in which they might stand together in security. She rose and placed her hands on his shoulders. “You are splendid; you are fine and brave and I am proud of you, Wayne, dear!” His manner changed instantly and he caught her hands and clasped them tight. He was still breathing deeply from his long harangue, but in a moment he spoke quietly, with a return of the tenderness with which he had begun. “I’m a beast to frighten you that way; and I must have hurt this poor little hand.” He kissed it and swung her hands lightly, looking into her face tenderly. “What a terrible big bear you are! And everything was peaceable and cosy and you let your temper get the better of you.” The snow, still falling densely, had hastened the twilight and night was near. “We must go--at once--at once! What if the car wouldn’t run in the snow?” “What if it wouldn’t! They can give us dinner here--right here on the hearth. They can always put up something--it’s the rule of the Club, and there’s no end of wood for the fire.” “We are going straight home--just as straight as we can go. Please!” She tried to free herself, but he held her hands fast, laughing into her eyes, and suddenly he put his arms around her and drew her close and kissed her full upon the lips. The firelight danced fitfully about them as they stood thus. He had raised his head to repeat the kiss, when steps sounded upon the veranda. Someone cried aloud once, twice, and beat upon the door, and when Wayne flung it open Jean Morley, frightened and sobbing, stumbled across the threshold. Wayne plunged through the snow-filled dusk after a man who had turned away from the veranda steps and was running swiftly down the road. To his surprise the fugitive, who had at once widened the distance between them, stopped short and wheeled round. “I meant no harm! I meant no harm!” cried a voice. “Good God, Joe! What are you doing here?” “Is it you, Mr. Wayne? I guess I’m crazy, that’s all. I meant no harm. She’ll tell you herself I meant no harm.” “We’ll see about that. I told you to stay at the house. I’m surprised and disappointed in you. I’ll see you about this to-night. Now go to the car--back there under the shed--and bring it out right away and take us in. And you needn’t try to smash it on the way home; go in by the Red Oak road and take your time.” Wayne was not more surprised to find that his man Joe had been Jean Morley’s pursuer than by the young fellow’s evident distress, so markedly in contrast to his usual amiable cocksureness. It was no time for inquiry and debate. The snow was already ankle-deep and it was imperative that they start home at once.