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 Valdeck lost himself in a maze of thanks and adoring admiration.

"Isn't it strange," she murmured, "isn't it wonderful, that things should work out this way? I understand it all now. She pretended to be puzzled as to where she had seen you before—asked me who you were, to sound me, you see, concerning our relations. She seemed absent-minded and ill at ease. And then, when I left her, she happened to see the pin you gave me. She was really overcome, turned pale, and fairly shook me, demanding where I got it."

"Yes," he nodded, reminiscently. "She knew how much I thought of that trinket. I remember she once asked me to let her wear it, and I refused. She never quite forgave me. Of course when she saw it in your possession she was enraged. What did you say?"

Philippa colored. "Well, I couldn't tell her the truth, you know. I said it was an old thing of my mother's, but I saw she knew better."

He laughed, shortly. "Knew better!" Inwardly he congratulated himself on his judgment in taking the bull by the horns. He was certain 151