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oor。 He had clumsily allowed Mirabel to improve his positionwhile he had himself lost groundin Emily's estimation。 If this first disastrous consequence of the meeting between the two men was permitted to repeat itself on future occasions； Emily and Mirabel would be brought more closely together； and Alban himself would be the unhappy cause of it。 Francine rose； on the Sunday morning； before the table was laid for breakfastresolved to try the effect of a timely word of advice。
Her bedroom was situated in the front of the house。 The man she was looking for presently passed within her range of view from the window； on his way to take a morning walk in the park。 She followed him immediately。
〃Good…morning； Mr。 Morris。〃
He raised his hat and bowedwithout speaking； and without looking at her。
〃We resemble each other in one particular；〃 she proceeded； graciously； 〃we both like to breathe the fresh air before breakfast。〃
He said exactly what common politeness obliged him to say； and no morehe said； 〃Yes。〃
Some girls might have been discouraged。 Francine went on。
〃It is no fault of mine； Mr。 Morris； that we have not been better friends。 For some reason； into which I don't presume to inquire； you seem to distrust me。 I really don't know what I have done to deserve it。〃
〃Are you sure of that？〃 he askedeying her suddenly and searchingly as he spoke。
Her hard face settled into a rigid look； her eyes met his eyes with a stony defiant stare。 Now； for the first time； she knew that he suspected her of having written the anonymous letter。 Every evil quality in her nature steadily defied him。 A hardened old woman could not have sustained the shock of discovery with a more devilish composure than this girl displayed。 〃Perhaps you will explain yourself；〃 she said。
〃I _have_ explained myself；〃 he answered。
〃Then I must be content；〃 she rejoined； 〃to remain in the dark。 I had intended； out of my regard for Emily； to suggest that you mightwith advantage to yourself； and to interests that are very dear to yoube more careful in your behavior to Mr。 Mirabel。 Are you disposed to listen to me？〃
〃Do you wish me to answer that question plainly； Miss de Sor？〃
〃I insist on your answering it plainly。〃
〃Then I am _not_ disposed to listen to you。〃
〃May I know why？ or am I to be left in the dark again？〃
〃You are to be left； if you please； to your own ingenuity。〃
Francine looked at him； with a malignant smile。 〃One of these days； Mr。 MorrisI will deserve your confidence in my ingenuity。〃 She said it； and went back to the house。
This was the only element of disturbance that troubled the perfect tranquillity of the day。 What Francine had proposed to do； with the one idea of making Alban serve her purpose； was accomplished a few hours later by Emily's influence for good over the man who loved her。
They passed the afternoon together uninterruptedly in the distant solitudes of the park。 In the course of conversation Emily found an opportunity of discreetly alluding to Mirabel。 〃You mustn't be jealous of our clever little friend；〃 she said； 〃I like him； and admire him； but〃
〃But you don't love him？〃
She smiled at the eager way in which Alban put the question。
〃There is no fear of that；〃 she answered brightly。
〃Not even if you discovered that he loves you？〃
〃Not even then。 Are you content at last？ Promise me not to be rude to Mr。 Mirabel again。〃
〃For his sake？〃
〃Nofor my sake。 I don't like to see you place yourself at a disadvantage toward another man； I don't like you to disappoint me。〃
The happiness of hearing her say those words transfigured himthe manly beauty of his earlier and happier years seemed to have returned to Alban。 He took her handhe was too agitated to speak。
〃You are forgetting Mr。 Mirabel；〃 she reminded him gently。
〃I will be all that is civil and kind to Mr。 Mirabel； I will like him and admire him as you do。 Oh； Emily； are you a little； only a very little； fond of me？〃
〃I don't quite know。〃
〃May I try to find out？〃
〃How？〃 she asked。
Her fair cheek was very near to him。 The softly…rising color on it said； Answer me hereand he answered。
CHAPTER XLV。
MISCHIEFMAKING。
On Monday； Mirabel made his appearanceand the demon of discord returned with him。
Alban had employed the earlier part of the day in making a sketch in the parkintended as a little present for Emily。 Presenting himself in the drawing…room； when his work was completed； he found Cecilia and Francine alone。 He asked where Emily was。
The question had been addressed to Cecilia。 Francine answered it。
〃Emily mustn't be disturbed；〃 she said。
〃Why not？〃
〃She is with Mr。 Mirabel in the rose garden。 I saw them talking togetherevidently feeling the deepest interest in what they were saying to each other。 Don't interrupt themyou will only be in the way。〃
Cecilia at once protested against this last assertion。 〃She is trying to make mischief； Mr。 Morrisdon't believe her。 I am sure they will be glad to see you； if you join them in the garden。〃
Francine rose； and left the room。 She turned； and looked at Alban as she opened the door。 〃Try it；〃 she said〃and you will find I am right。〃
〃Francine sometimes talks in a very ill…natured way；〃 Cecilia gently remarked。 〃Do you think she means it； Mr。 Morris？'
〃I had better not offer an opinion；〃 Alban replied。
〃Why？〃
〃I can't speak impartially； I dislike Miss de Sor。〃
There was a pause。 Alban's sense of self…respect forbade him to try the experiment which Francine had maliciously suggested。 His thoughtsless easy to restrainwandered in the direction of the garden。 The attempt to make him jealous had failed； but he was conscious； at the same time； that Emily had disappointed him。 After what they had said to each other in the park； she ought to have remembered that women are at the mercy of appearances。 If Mirabel had something of importance to say to her； she might have avoided exposing herself to Francine's spiteful misconstruction： it would have been easy to arrange with Cecilia that a third person should be present at the interview。
While he was absorbed in these reflections； Ceciliaembarrassed by the silencewas trying to find a topic of conversation。 Alban roughly pushed his sketch…book away from him； on the table。 Was he displeased with Emily？ The same question had occurred to Cecilia at the time of the correspondence； on the subject of Miss Jethro。 To recall those letters led her； by natural sequence； to another effort of memory。 She was reminded of the person who had been the cause of the correspondence： her interest was revived in the mystery of Miss Jethro。
〃Has Emily told you that I have seen your letter？〃 she asked。
He roused himself with a start。 〃I beg your pardon。 What letter are you thinking of？〃
〃I was thinking of the letter which mentions Miss Jethro's strange visit。 Emily was so puzzled and so surprised that she showed it to meand we both consulted my father。 Have you spoken to Emily about Miss Jethro？〃
〃I have triedbut she seemed to be unwilling to pursue the subject。〃
〃Have you made any discoveries since you wrote to Emily？〃
〃No。 The mystery is as impenetrable as ever。〃
As he replied in tho