bark that carried my love went to pieces. I know; yes, I know!”      

       “My dear aunt!”      

       “It is all right now, dear; but things might have been that are not. As to Dora, I think she may be trusted with Basil Stanhope. He is one of the best and handsomest men I ever saw, and he has now rights in Dora’s love no one can tamper with. Mostyn is an honorable man.”      

       “All right, but—     

   “Love will venture in, Where he daurna well be seen; O Love will venture in, Where Wisdom once has been— 

       and then, aunt, what then?”      

  

       PART SECOND — PLAYING WITH FIRE     

  

       CHAPTER V     

       THE next day after lunch Ethel said she was going to walk down to Gramercy Park and spend an hour or two with her grandmother, and “Will you send the carriage for me at five o’clock?” she asked.     

       “Your father has ordered the carriage to be at the Holland House at five o’clock. It can call for you first, and then go to the Holland House. But do not keep your father waiting. If he is not at the entrance give your card to the outside porter; he will have it sent up to Fred’s apartments.”      

       “Then father is calling on Fred? What for? Is he sick?”      

       “Oh, no, business of some kind. I hope you will have a pleasant walk.”      

       “There is no doubt of it.”      

       Indeed, she was radiant with its exhilaration when she reached Gramercy Park. As she ran up the steps of the big, old-fashioned house she saw Madam at the window picking up some dropped stitches in her knitting. Madam saw her at the same moment, and the old face and the young face both alike kindled with love, as well as with 

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