brat from the Bella Vista who was the solitary guest at your valentine party?[91] I’m Janice Jennings. Greetings and hail! At the Bella Vista again, with my grandmother.”

[91]

“Oh....” Glen was a little dazed. She presented Luke to the two girls, hastily, fearful lest he should stride out in the blackness of his mood and have still further reason for resentment toward her.

Nancy Carey looked up at Luke Manders with her liquid hazel gaze and her soft little mouth smiling widely. “I’ve met you before,” she said calmly.

He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

“Oh, yes, I have ... right here, just after Glen’s father died!” She waited in soft expectancy for his corroboration, and when it did not come she expelled a quick sigh. “Well, I’ve met you now, anyway.”

Miss Ada was perturbed. The affair had started so beautifully—two callers for Glen at once, and one of them a Carey—and now the young savage had to walk into the scene, like—as her own dear father would have said—a bull in a china shop. If he must be there and some one must talk to him, let it be the Northern girl: Miss Ada interposed herself swiftly between Nancy and the intruder and talked brightly to her kinswoman.

Nancy got slowly out of the old armchair. “It’s late,” she said vaguely. “You coming, Janice?”

“No, I’ll stay with Glen a while. Thanks for[92] bringing me, old thing! See you to-morrow!” Miss Jennings waved a careless hand.

[92]

“Glen, my dear!” Miss Ada was almost sharp about it. “Nancy’s going!”

“Oh,” said Glen awkwardly. “I’m sorry....” She simply could not pull her mind out of its deep morass of bewilderment and unhappiness for these small amenities.

Miss Ada, to cover her lapses, made a great point of seeing Nancy out, and Luke followed silently.

“Luke,” Glen called after him insistently, “you’ll come back to-night?”

“Not to-night,” he answered briefly, waiting an instant in brooding silence for Nancy Carey and Miss Ada to pass through the gate.

“Which way are you going?” Nancy looked up at 

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