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Schofield stopped in his tracks and regarded his hostess with a

look that was mingled surprise and uneasiness. She lay back in a

chaise-longue, her hands clasped behind her head, smiling up at

the young man. The great square room was dark except for the

firelight, and her yellow dress, gleaming fitfully in it, showed

the curving lissomeness of her young body.

"Mrs. Mallaby," he said, "when you say clever things like that I

don't know what to do. I'm not used to it." He laughed as though

half-ashamed of the confession.

"Appreciate them," she directed shortly with a fleeting glance

from her great dark eyes.

"Do you demand all my time?" he asked and flushed. The

well-turned compliment caught her unawares and she admitted to

herself that perhaps she had underrated this briny youth who was

again beginning to interest her extremely.