stomach them. It was all right as long as you thought you hadn’t long to live. A good lark — you could put up with me. But a lifetime with old Doc Redfern’s son is a different thing. Oh, I understand — perfectly. I’ve been very dense — but I understand, at last.”

Valancy stood up. She stared into his furious face. Then — she suddenly laughed.

“You darling!” she said. “You do mean it! You do really love me! You wouldn’t be so enraged if you didn’t.”

Barney stared at her for a moment. Then he caught her in his arms with the little low laugh of the triumphant lover.

Uncle Benjamin, who had been frozen with horror at the keyhole, suddenly