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 rather hard. He's a serious youngster, and once or twice I've been a little sorry for him, Miss Ambler."

"You have?" Claire said; and she looked at him darkly. "I suppose you mean when you've seen him with me?"

"No." Orbison shook his head. "When I've seen him not with you. When he's with you he looks anxious; but when he's away from you he looks like Hamlet!"

"Of course you mean you consider me responsible for how he looks. Is the way Arturo looks the reason I mystify you?"

"It's part of it, yes," the invalid answered. "In the first place, one can't easily imagine so splendid-looking a young man as that being allowed to look like Hamlet. One would think"

"That I'd fairly jump at such a chance!" Claire finished for him, as he hesitated. "I mystify you because I don't jump, I suppose?"

"A little, yes; but there's something more. You meant for me to speak out, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Well, one always wonders whether or not American girls are as democratic at home as they are abroad. It's the most curious thing—you seem to