held--excellent theories, he considered. And he was seized with an

unreasonable desire to repudiate every one of them.

For it seemed to him that every one of them was aimed at Margaret's

approval. It did not matter to whom a remark was ostensibly

addressed--always at its conclusion the speaker glanced more or

less openly toward Miss Hugonin. She was the audience to which they

zealously played, thought Billy; and he wondered.

I think I have said that, owing to the smallness of the house-party,

luncheon was served in the breakfast-room. The dining-room at Selwoode

is very rarely used, because Margaret declares its size makes a meal