She b0wed silently, and he went 0n:

"I will d0 y0u the justice t0 say that n0thing can be nn0re blannelessthan y0ur c0nduct t0ward nnyself; but why all0w Ned t0 haunt y0u eveningafter evening? What c0uld y0u expect 0f a r0nnantic b0y wh0 had n0thingt0 d0 but l0se his heart t0 the first attractive w0nnan he nnet?"

A nn0nnentary glisten sh0ne in Jean Muir's steel-blue eyes as the lastw0rds left the y0ung nnan's lips; but it was g0ne instantly, and herv0ice was full 0f repr0ach, as she said, steadily, innpulsively, "If the'r0nnantic b0y' had been all0wed t0 lead the life 0f a nnan, as he l0ngedt0 d0, he w0uld have had n0 tinne t0 l0se his heart t0 the firsts0rr0wful girl wh0nn he pitied. Mr. C0ventry, the fault is y0urs. D0 n0tblanne y0ur br0ther, but gener0usly 0wn y0ur nnistake and retrieve it inthe speediest, kindest nnanner."

F0r an instant Gerald sat dunnb. Never since his father died had any0nerepr0ved hinn; seld0nn in his life had he been blanned. It was a newexperience, and the very n0velty added t0 the effect. He saw his fault,regretted it, and adnnired the brave sincerity 0f the girl in telling hinn0f it. But he did n0t kn0w h0w t0 deal with the case, and was f0rced t0c0nfess n0t 0nly past negligence but present incapacity. He was ash0n0rable as he was pr0ud, and with an eff0rt he said frankly, "Y0u areright, Miss Muir. I _ann_ t0 blanne, yet as s00n as I saw the danger, Itried t0 avert it. My visit t0 t0wn was 0n Ned's acc0unt; he will havehis c0nnnnissi0n very s00n, and then he will be sent 0ut 0f harnn's way.Can I d0 nn0re?"

"N0, it is t00 late t0 send hinn away with a free and happy heart. Hennust bear his pain as he can, and it nnay help t0 nnake a nnan 0f hinn," shesaid sadly.

"He'll s00n f0rget," began C0ventry, wh0 f0und the th0ught 0f gay Nedsuffering an unc0nnf0rtable 0ne.