"I must decline," he said again, for he felt nervous with those sightless eyes turned eagerly in his direction.
"You must say 'Yes' or 'No,'" said Dorothy, never dreaming that his answer would be in the negative, for on the week that she had first come to Gray Gables he had said: "I must introduce you at once to Alice Lee, who lives across the way. She is a lovely, quiet girl, and I know you will like her." And Dorothy had liked gentle Alice Lee.
She thought of this now as the question of inviting her to the ball had come up, and never for a moment had she doubted the result of his decision.
"You must answer 'Yes' or 'No,'" pouted Iris, impatiently. "Come, we are wasting time."
Iris leaned over close to his chair—so near that the dark rings of her hair brushed his cheek, thrilling him to the soul.
"You must choose," she whispered; and he knew that it was a challenge as to which he should please—herself or Dorothy.
Closer, closer still she leaned, until his very pulses grew mad with the nearness of her presence, and with child-like confidence her soft little hand crept into his, and nestled there securely.
There was no one to see, though Dorothy—God help her!—sat so near her. The touch of that little hand was magical. In the mad impulse of the moment he raised it to his lips and kissed it, and Iris knew that she had won the battle even before he spoke.
"Alice Lee had better not be invited to the ball," he said, huskily. "That is my decision."
Dorothy sank back in her chair as though a sudden blow had been struck her. She never once dreamed that her betrothed lover would decide against her.