g. May I report to you how it works?" he asked, smiling.

Ruth agreed delightedly, and, when they separated, watched with interest
to see that the new idea had already begun to work, as indicated by the
way the younger Kendrick approached the elder, who was making his
farewells.

"Going now, grandfather?" said he, with his hand on old Matthew
Kendrick's arm. "We'll go together. I'll call James."

"You going too, Dick?" inquired his grandfather, evidently surprised.
"That's good."

As he took leave of Roberta, Richard found opportunity to exchange with
her ever so brief a conversation. "This has been quite a wonderful
experience to me, Miss Gray," said he. "I shall not forget it."

Her eyes searched his for an instant, but found there only sincerity.
"You have done your part better than could have been expected," she
admitted.

"What grudging commendation! What should you have expected? That I
should sulk in a corner because I couldn't have things all my own way?"

She coloured richly, and he rejoiced at having put her in confusion for
an instant. "Of course not. But every one wouldn't have eyes to see the
beauties of a family party where all the fun wasn't for the young
people."

"There was only one dance I enjoyed better than the one with Mrs. Rufus
Gray." He lowered his tone so that she could hear. "Since you have
commended me for doing as your brother bade me--be all things to all
partners--will you give me my reward by letting me tell you that I shall
never hear 'Roses Red' again without thinking of the most perfect dance
I ever had?"

"That sounds like an appropriate farewell from the cotillion leader,"
said Roberta. Then instantly she knew that in her haste to cover a very
girlish sense of pleasure in the thing he had said she herself had said
an unkind one. She knew it as a slow red came into her guest's handsome
face and his eyes darkened. Before he could speak--though, indeed, he
did not seem in haste to speak--she added, putting out her hand
impulsively:

"Forgive me; I didn't mean it. You have been lovely to every one
to-night, and I have appreciated it. I am wrong; I think you are much
more--and have in you far more--than--as if you were only--the thing I
said."

He made no immediate reply, though he took the hand she gave him. He
continued to look at her for so long that her own eyes fell. When he did
speak it was in a low, odd tone which she could not quite understand.

"Miss Gray," said he