ng that had happened since her arrival seemed to increase her
confusion.

The note of a motor-horn down the drive gave another turn to her
thoughts. "Are those the new arrivals already?" she asked.

"Oh, dear, no; they won't be here till after seven." Miss Suffern
craned her head from the window to catch a glimpse of the motor. "It
must be Charlotte leaving."

"Was it the little Wynn girl who was called away in a hurry? I hope it's
not on account of illness."

"Oh, no; I believe there was some mistake about dates. Her mother
telephoned her that she was expected at the Stepleys, at Fishkill, and
she had to be rushed over to Albany to catch a train."

Mrs. Lidcote meditated. "I'm sorry. She's a charming young thing. I
hoped I should have another talk with her this evening after dinner."

"Yes; it's too bad." Miss Suffern's gaze grew vague.

"You _do_ look tired, you know," she continued, seating herself at
the tea-table and preparing to dispense its delicacies. "You must go
straight back to your sofa and let me wait on you. The excitement has
told on you more than you think, and you mustn't fight against it any
longer. Just stay quietly up here and let yourself go. You'll have Leila
to yourself on Monday."

Mrs. Lidcote received the tea-cup which her cousin proffered, but showed
no other disposition to obey her injunctions. For a moment she stirred
her tea in silence; then she asked: "Is it your idea that I should stay
quietly up here till Monday?"

Miss Suffern set down her cup with a gesture so sudden that it
endangered an adjacent plate of scones. When she had assured herself of
the safety of the scones she looked up with a fluttered laugh. "Perhaps,
dear, by to-morrow you'll be feeling differently. The air here, you
know--"

"Yes, I know." Mrs. Lidcote bent forward to help herself to a scone.
"Who's arriving this evening?" she asked.

Miss Suffern frowned and peered. "You know my wretched head for names.
Leila told me--but there are so many--"

"So many? She didn't tell me she expected a big party."

"Oh, not big: but rather outside of her little group. And of course, as
it's the first time, she's a little excited at having the older set."

"The older set? Our contemporaries, you mean?"

"Why--yes." Miss Suffern paused as if to gather herself up for a leap.
"The Ashton Gileses," she brought out.

"The Ashton Gileses? Really? I shall be glad to see Mary Giles again. It
must be eighteen years," said