Page:Hornung - Irralies Bushranger.djvu/105

 the previous night, and of her hard words to him then. To think of them herself meant instantaneous action on the part of Irralie. She had not to think twice, but stepped forward there and then, with her right arm held out in front of her.

"Shake hands—if you will," she said. "I don't deserve it. But try!"

It was done without a word, and the pipe was put away.

"I am honestly sorry for every word I said," continued Irralie, warmly. "I thought you foolishly and wickedly suspicious, but now we see who was the wicked fool! Heaven knows I had my own doubts in the beginning. But I let him see it; he set to work to remove them, and succeeded—you may know how. It was a clever trick, though; I will say that." And Irralie sighed.

"You mean about the tennis-racket?"

"Yes. You said it was simple?" "It was the simplest dodge of all, Irralie! Fullarton stopped in Melbourne to play in a