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 from you so tactfully that you won't think anything's gone wrong; but as you couldn't help knowing it anyhow I'm afraid my diplomacy may be thrown away. I'm going to obey my orders though, and I hope you'll admit afterwards that I've done it with tact."

"What is it I couldn't help knowing? I'm afraid there's not much I know;—I've come to that conclusion lately."

"Dear me!" Olivia laughed and shook her head ruefully. "What a very great deal you've changed! I suppose you think that's a spiteful thing to say, though, don't you?"

"No. From you I take it as the greatest flattery you're capable of. You've made it fairly clear that you'd regard any change whatever in me as an improvement."

"No. I shouldn't," she returned. "I know I've given you a right to think I'm that stupid, Mr. Ogle; but I'm really able to appreciate more things than you have any cause to guess I could. One of them was your smile when I spoke to you at dinner. It was heroic."

"You're a little severe," he said, and again produced the contortion.

But at this she made an outcry of protest. "Don't