There was a horrible pause. Leigh and Emily exchanged glances. There was a little satisfaction in hers; she had exploded a bombshell second only to William’s letter, and now she interrupted her father’s forty-second perusal of that document. “Papa,” she said in her solemn young voice, “Willie was engaged to Virginia Denbigh, and I don’t believe she’s broken it off at all!” “Hush up, Emmy!” cried Daniel angrily. “Leave Virginia Denbigh out of it. You’ve no right to talk about her. William’s married!” “I guess I’ve got a right to tell the truth!” Emily flared up. “Willie was engaged to Virginia Denbigh up to last week--and I know it!” But, to her surprise, it was Leigh who broke out suddenly. “What does it matter?” he cried. “If William’s fallen in love at first sight, he can’t help it, can he? It’s too much for a fellow, isn’t it? When a man sees a woman he loves at first sight--it’s--it’s like a tornado, it bowls him over!” “Eh?” Mr. Carter turned and stared at his youngest son. So did his mother. Leigh was a high-school boy preparing for college. Emily, blond and snub-nosed and honest, had missed beauty by the proverbial inch that’s as good as a mile, but Leigh was a handsome boy. He had the eyes of a girl, too. “Love at first sight?” bellowed Mr. Carter, getting his breath. “What d’you know about it, you--you young idiot?” Leigh reddened, but he held his ground. “I know--how I’d feel,” he replied hotly. “Oh, Leigh!” his mother smiled indulgently. “You’re such a child!” “I’m not!” he retorted with spirit. “I’m eighteen--I’m a man!” Emily giggled provokingly, and Mr. Carter struck the table with his fist. “Shut up!” he roared. “I’ve got one donkey--I don’t want another! What did you say, Emily?” “I said Willie was engaged to Virginia Denbigh and----” Daniel, with a suppressed groan of anger, rose from the table; but his father stopped him. “Wait!” he said sharply. “I want to get the stuffing out of this. What do you mean, Emily?” “I mean just exactly what I say, papa,” cried his daughter, giving Daniel a look of triumph. “Virginia’s got Willie’s ring on the third finger of her left hand, and he wrote her letters--love-letters--from Japan. I guess I know; I saw her reading one. I guess any girl could tell that!” “You’re nothing but a child!” Mr. Carter exclaimed angrily, but he was searching back in his own mind. He had always planned this match between his favorite son and Virginia Denbigh, and Emily’s words went home. He reddened. “Dan, do you know anything about this?” he demanded, turning on his son. Daniel, who was standing with his hand on the back of his chair, just as he had risen, averted his eyes. “I’d rather not say anything about it, father,” he replied after a moment. “It’s--it’s not fair to Miss Denbigh, is it, to discuss it?” His father, who had been observing him narrowly, thrust William’s letter into his pocket. “I see it’s true,” he remarked dryly, “Emily’s got more candor than you have, that’s all.”