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182 enough almost to imagine me a hero. And then, perhaps, I shouldn't take the kiss. Perhaps I should act a chivalrous part, and in the end, maybe you would give it to me of your own accord."

Elsie laughed. There was something in his wooing that, rough as it was, appealed to her. Instead of moving away, she sat down again, and leaned a little towards him, huddled in her cloak.

"Well," he said, "I am beginning to interest you, am I not? I know exactly what sort of a woman you are. I think a man might have a chance with you, if he carried you off by force. Elsie, listen"

She shook her head, and made a gesture of rebuke.

"Yes, I shall call you Elsie, this once. Elsie, Elsie. It is a beautiful name. I delight in the name. Elsie. I say it to myself when I am alone. I kiss you in imagination when I am alone. Elsie, I love you."

"Mr. Trant"

"You can't prevent me from loving you; I have the right to do so, just as much as Blake; only he doesn't love any woman, he is not capable of loving anybody but himself"

Elsie gave a little inarticulate cry of pain.

"Something happened last night between you and Blake. Oh, I know it as well as if you or he had told me. I haven't been with Blake all these years for nothing. I know the signs of his face. I know what it means when he puts on that sort of mask he is wearing to-night. It means that the devil is in him, and that he will go his way come what will. Don't be his victim, Miss Valliant. It's for your own good I say it; don't believe in Blake."

Elsie turned on him, her face quivering with passionate anger.

"Be silent on this subject; say what you choose about yourself. That doesn't matter. It's only amusing, it interests me in a way. But don't insult me by mentioning Mr. Blake's name in connection with mine. I will not have it"