"They may be likened to a golden key that opens royal gates," said Kate, going to the piano to play while Grace was putting away her paints and brushes. A little later Grace went out to mail a letter. As she turned from the post-box, she found herself face to face with--whom but Leon Carrington? "Ah, an unexpected pleasure, Miss Hall!" he said, extending his hand and warmly grasping the one she slowly held out to him. He looked searchingly into her face, with clear, questioning eyes. She dropped her lashes and drew back with a touch of the old haughtiness, murmuring something he could not hear. "May I have the pleasure of a little walk with you?" he asked, suiting his step to hers and ignoring her apparent coldness. "Certainly. How long since you returned to Hampton, Mr. Carrington?" recovering herself as they walked. "Only a few days ago. I was called here on business for my uncle, and will probably be detained several weeks." He glanced at her as he spoke, but she gave no sign, only remarking it was a lovely season of the year for a visit. They walked along, talking only commonplaces, until they neared her home. "Did you receive my letter, Miss Gra--Miss Hall?" he asked, with some unsteadiness in his voice. "Yes," she replied, shortly. She did not understand herself any more than he did, and was vexed to find it so impossible to throw off her old proud ways, for she really intended to relent enough, at least, to have an explanation, and possibly--her thoughts could never go farther than this, and here she was, in the same imperious way, shutting her better self away from even a fair consideration of duty. These thoughts flashed through her mind while she walked on, apparently with the greatest indifference to either his words or his presence. But with a great effort she compelled herself to say again, with more warmth, "I received it, and intended to answer before this, but--" She stopped abruptly. He gratefully caught the morsel she had given, and asked if he might not call the next day. "Yes, you may come at three," she said, careful to set a time when Kate would surely be out. At the door they parted, and as she went up the stairs, she wondered more than ever at her hardness, for almost unconsciously she had given up all doubts of his honor as a gentleman. What was it all about anyway? Nothing but a report that he was engaged to a young lady at the time he proposed to her, and on the testimony of a single friend, she had allowed herself to be miserable, and make another miserable, through this foolish pride that she _would_ conquer by to-morrow afternoon.