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 at it, except when he has been drinking too heavily."

"Drinking! Mr. Frost, you surely are misinformed; Robert never drinks."

Her manner was dignified, though she did not seem affected, for she was too certain there was some mistake.

"I hope I have been," he said, simply.

He saw at once that she would not believe him. For love to her meant perfect trust; faith in the beloved against all earth or heaven. Whoever dared to traduce him would be consumed in the lightning of her luminous scorn, yet win for him, her lover, a tenderer devotion.

"So you are going to 'Frisco,' and I cannot see you for three long months? Well, I must explain something," he began. "It is rather serious, it didn't start out so, but is getting very serious. I got your note about the money more than a week ago—" His voice trembled, broke down, then mastering himself, he went on, "I could not meet the demand. Ah, if I could only get the model I wanted, I could paint a picture whose loveliness none but the blind could dispute—a picture that would bring more than three times the amount I owe you."

He watched the girl eagerly, the while soft sensations and vague desires thrilled him.