He allowed no time for confusion and embarrassment--he was too clever for that.
"How am I to thank you, Miss Arleigh ?" he said.

"If the sun had fallen from the heavens, I could not have felt, more surprise than your kindness has caused me.

My sister tells me you are good enough not to be angry at my presumption." Miss Lyster laughed.
"I think, Allan," she said, "that I shall leave you to listen to Miss Arleigh's lecture alone.

She will be able to say harder words to you if I am not by to listen.

I will see if I can finish your picture." She walked over to the tree where paper and pencils lay, leaving them alone, and though she was a woman, and young--though she knew that she was most foully betraying a girl whose youth and innocence might have pleaded for her, she had not even a passing thought of pity.