Norton had dropped into a seat with apparent carelessness, while Tom stood immovable, his face a mask.

The girl looked quickly from one to the other, her breath coming in quick gasps.

She turned to Tom:

"Why did you lock the door—what does it mean?"

Norton hastened to answer, his tones reassuringly simple:

"Why, only that we wished to be alone for a few moments——"

"Yes, we understand each other now," Tom added.

Helen\'s eyes flashed cautiously from one to the other:

"I heard a strange noise"—she turned to the boy—"and, oh, Tom, darling, I was so frightened! I thought I heard a struggle and then everything became so still. I was wild—I couldn\'t wait any longer!"

"Why, it was really nothing," Tom answered her bravely smiling. "We—we did have a little scene, and lost our temper for a moment, but you can see for yourself it\'s all right now. We\'ve thrashed the whole thing out and have come to a perfect understanding!"

His words were convincing but not his manner. He hadn\'t dared to look her in the face. His eyes were on the rug and his foot moved nervously.[Pg 450]

"You are not deceiving me?" she asked trembling.

The boy appealed to his father:

"Haven\'t we come to a perfect understanding, Dad?"

Norton rose:

"Perfect, my son. It\'s all right, now, Helen."

"Just wait for me five minutes, dear," Tom pleaded.

"Can\'t I hear what you have to say?"

"We prefer to be alone," the father said gravely.

Again her eyes flashed from one to the other and rested on Tom. She rushed to him and laid her hand appealingly on his arm:

"Oh, Tom, dear, am I not your wife?" the boy\'s head drooped—"must you have a secret from me now?"

"Just a few minutes," Norton pleaded, "that\'s a good girl!"

"Only a few minutes, Helen," Tom urged.

"Please let me stay. Why were you both so pale when I came in?"

Father and son glanced at each other over her head. Norton hesitated and said:

"You see we are perfectly calm now. All bitterness is gone from our hearts. We are father and son again."

"Why do you look so queerly at me? Why do you look so strangely at each other?"

"It\'s only your imagination, dear," Tom said.

"No, there\'s something wrong," Helen declared desperately. "I feel it in the air of this room—in the strange silence between you. For God\'s sake tell me what it means! Surely, I have the right to know"—she turned suddenly to Norton—"You don\'t hate me now, do you, major?"[Pg 451]

The somber brown eyes rested on her in a moment of intense silence and he slowly said:

"I have never hated you, my child!"

"Then what is it?" she cried in anguish, turning again to Tom. "Tell me what I can do to help you! I\'ll obey you, dearest, even if it\'s to lay my life down. Don\'t send me away. Don\'t keep this secret from me. I feel its chill in my heart. My place is by your side—tell me how I can help you!"

Tom looked at her intently:

"You say that you will obey me?"

"Yes—you are my lord and master!"

He seized her hand and led her to the door

"Then wait for me just five minutes."

She lifted her head pleadingly:

"You will let me come to you then?&quo............