Suddenly throwing circumspect caution quite aside, she determined that she would speak.

Springing to her feet she crossed the room and seated herself in Billy's chair at the chess-table.
"Me! Offend me!" she exclaimed, in a low voice.

"As if I were the one you were offending!" "Why, _Alice!_" murmured the man, in obvious stupefaction.
Alice raised her hand, palm outward.
"Now don't, _please_ don't pretend you don't know," she begged, almost piteously.

"Please don't add that to all the rest.

Oh, I understand, of course, it's none of my affairs, and I wasn't going to speak," she choked; "but, to-day, when you gave me this chance, I had to.