Zélie was strongly tempted to answer bluntly "Yes." If she did, and left it at that, Marise would be furious. She would go back to Vision House and quarrel with Jack, even if the two hadn't quarrelled irrevocably already, and the divorce which might give Jack to her would come soon. But no, she had vowed to herself that she would be loyal to Jack through everything. She had vowed, too, that she would "get even" with Marise Sorel some day--and now was the day when she could "bring off the stunt," as she said to herself. But she wouldn't get even in a way to hurt Jack. If possible, she'd do it in a way to help him. "He gave me those things to take out to Mothereen and ask her to keep them for you, till you came," lied Zélie. And lying, she looked more indignantly virtuous than when she had been telling the simple truth. Marise believed her. "Is there anything more you want to know?" inquired Miss Marks. "Because if you do, I can't think of much which would especially concern or interest you, except that Mothereen--Mrs. Mooney--came to the Grand Canyon with me and helped as much in the work as she was strong enough to do. So you needn't imagine she told you any fibs. If there were _reservations_, I'm responsible. She'd have blabbed out everything if I hadn't warned her you wouldn't be pleased to hear that I'd been Jack's chosen messenger. You didn't like me much, I said. You and your mother thought I was rather forward and above my place. You'd think so a heap more if you knew. Mothereen promised to hold her tongue. It must have been a struggle for her. She's as ingenuous as a child. So is Jack in some ways. He'd have told you all about me if I hadn't made him see it wouldn't do." "You seem to have been awfully solicitous on my account," said Marise. "It was on Jack's account really," explained Zélie. "I didn't want his apple-cart to be upset--no matter what I thought of the apples. I didn't care a hang for them personally." Marise laughed. "The apples were me." "That's it. Pretty, good-smelling apples, with pink cheeks and satin skin. But at heart--r-o-t-t-e-n!" "Thanks!" choked Marise, and got up. "Thank you for _all_ your frankness. I could return some of it, but you've been ill, and _I_ don't like being rude. I must just say one thing, however, before I go. You've given yourself away dreadfully." Zélie stumbled to her feet. "How?" "By showing me exactly what your feeling is for Major Garth." "I'm his pal from the beginning to the end." Marise ignored the evasion. "You needn't be afraid that I'll be cad enough to go and tell him what I think about you. He probably knows your feelings and returns them, but----" "He doesn't. Are you a _damn_ fool, or are you only pretending?" "I daresay I'm a damn fool," repeated Marise sweetly. "In any case, I'm not pretending."