sensible thing to want, I'm sure. It makes a great difference, you

know."

He looked down into her face for a moment. One might have sworn this

detected fortune-hunter pitied her.

"Yes," he assented, slowly, "it makes a difference--not a difference

for the better, I'm afraid, Peggy."

Ensued a silence.

Then Margaret tossed her head. She was fast losing her composure.

She would have given the world to retract what she had said, and

accordingly she resolved to brazen it out.