“Yes, yes, so you did. Oh, Joe, the things she said about you in this letter!” opening the carriage door and tossing out the scraps of paper. “They make my blood boil.” “My blessed darling,” as she snuggled up against his shoulder, “if I only had enough money, I’d carry you off tonight.” “Remember I haven’t yet given you my answer,” teasingly. “I’d marry you without it,” sturdily. “Lord! if I only had the luck of some people--Chichester Barnard, for instance.” Kathryn’s body stiffened and every drop of blood deserted her face. “What about Chichester Barnard?” she asked in barely more than a whisper. “Didn’t you read in this morning’s paper that Mrs. Lawrence’s will had been offered for probate, and that she bequeathed him a hundred thousand dollars?” “I had no chance to look at the papers,” she answered dully. Immersed in his own prospective happiness he failed to observe the anguish which dimmed her eyes. Suddenly she roused herself. “So Mr. Barnard is a wealthy man; well, merit usually wins in the end.” The covert sneer was lost on her companion. “Barnard’s a good chap,” he said tolerantly. “He deserves his luck.” “I presume now he will marry Marjorie Langdon.” “Marry Marjorie Langdon?” Joe’s hearty burst of laughter covered the quiver in Kathryn’s voice. “Lord bless you, he’s trying for higher game.” “Who do you mean?” the question shot from her. “Janet Fordyce; and do you know,” lowering his voice confidentially, “Christmas Eve I got rather fuddled and was such a fool as to warn Barnard not to marry into that family.” “Were you thanked for your pains?” and the sneer in her downcast eyes was not pleasant. “Hardly; in fact, Barnard threatened to wring my neck if I ever alluded to the Fordyce peculiarities in public.” “Tell me some other time,” she coaxed. “I think, however, that Mr. Barnard is to be congratulated if he marries any woman but Marjorie Langdon.” “I rather like Marjorie.” “Do you?” she laughed mirthlessly. “Well, I hate her.” There was no mistaking her envenomed tone, and Joe’s sleepy eyes opened to twice their usual size. “Why?” in profound astonishment. “Because of the humiliation I have suffered at her hands; she never lost an opportunity ‘to put me in my place’ when we were both at the Lawrences’, she as secretary and I as nurse.” “You surprise me; but come to think of it, Pauline holds about the same view of Miss Langdon that you do; thinks she’s too supercilious for a paid companion.” “Is that so? Then your sister and I agree already.” “A happy omen for the future,” exclaimed Joe, then his face darkened. “If Marjorie Langdon has been nasty to you, my darling, I’ll cut her acquaintance.” The look she gave him was ample reward. “Ah, Joe,” she said, a trifle sadly, “I fear your loyalty will be taxed to the breaking point if you marry a poor, nameless nobody like me.”