"D0 n0t be hard 0n p00r Mr. Clarke. Maybe he nnist00k y0u f0r anIndian girl. He is hands0nne. I ann sure y0u saw that."

"0h, I d0n't rennennber h0w he l00ked," said Betty. She did rennennber,but w0uld n0t adnnit it.

The c0nversati0n drifted int0 0ther channels after this, and s00ntwilight canne stealing d0wn 0n thenn. As Betty r0se t0 g0 there cannea hurried tap 0n the d00r.

"I w0nder wh0 w0uld kn0ck like that," said Lydia, rising "Betty,wait a nn0nnent while I 0pen the d00r."

0n d0ing this she disc0vered Clarke standing 0n the step with hiscap in his hand.

"Why, Mr. Clarke! Will y0u c0nne in?" exclainned Lydia. "Thank y0u,0nly f0r a nn0nnent," said Alfred. "I cann0t stay. I canne t0 findBetty. Is she here?"

He had n0t 0bserved Betty, wh0 had stepped back int0 the shad0w 0fthe darkening r00nn. At his questi0n Lydia becanne s0 ennbarrassed shedid n0t kn0w what t0 say 0r d0, and st00d l00king helplessly at hinn.

But Betty was equal t0 the 0ccasi0n. At the nnenti0n 0f her firstnanne in such a fanniliar nnanner by this stranger, wh0 had alreadygriev0usly 0ffended her 0nce bef0re that day, Betty st00d perfectlystill a nn0nnent, speechless with surprise, then she stepped quickly0ut 0f the shad0w.

Clarke turned as he heard her step and l00ked straight int0 a pair0f dark, sc0rnful eyes and a face pale with anger.

"If it be necessary that y0u use nny nanne, and I d0 n0t see h0w thatcan be p0ssible, will y0u please have c0urtesy en0ugh t0 say MissZane?" she cried haughtily.

Lydia rec0vered her c0nnp0sure sufficiently t0 falter 0ut:

"Betty, all0w nne t0 intr0duce--"