“Now, then,” he said to himself, “let's have this thing out.”

“Most willingly. This girl was on the way to engagement to this young man Perkins. You come on the scene. Everything is changed.”

“Well! What of it? It's a mighty good thing for her.”

“But you are the cause of it.”

“The occasion, rather.”

“No, the cause. You have attracted her to you.”

“I can't help that. Besides, it is a mere passing whim. She'll get over all that?” And Cameron laughed scornfully in his own face.

“Do you know that? And how do you know it? Tim thinks differently.”

“Oh, confound it all! I see that I shall have to get out of here.”

“A wise decision truly, and the sooner the better. Do you propose to go at once?”