Gerald still stood half turned from him, frowning out over the placid blue water. "Ah," she said, "it chiefly consists of good example and that sort of thing, I suppose."
"I think it consists chiefly of love," said Halloway, simply.
Gerald made no answer at first, then turned and looked at him almost defiantly. Her changeable eyes seemed black as she raised them to his. "Would you have thrown Olly's marbles into the lake?"
"No," replied Halloway, looking steadily back at her.
"Then you would have been very foolish," said Gerald, haughtily. "It was the only way to touch him. I was quite right to do it."
"You should be the best judge of your actions, Miss Vernor."
Gerald bowed without answer, and moved past him like an offended duchess. Halloway stood looking after her with an amused sparkle in his eyes. "Miss Geraldine Vernor," he said to himself, "with all your beauty and your reputed accomplishments and intellect, you would yet do well to take a few lessons of my little friend Phebe Lane."
CHAPTER VII.
TRIED AS BY FIRE.
"Gerald, what are you thinking of?"