l you; something you've been
prepared for for a long time in that wise, old head of yours. It's made
me the happiest man in the world; and I hope it will make you almost as
happy. And I believe it's for your good; that it's going to be a great
big factor in working out all your problems and mine! Come now, forgive
me, and tell me whether you want three guesses as to what it is!"

He rested the tips of his fingers on her shoulders, standing off and
looking at her with all the old fondness in his eyes. He had spoken
buoyantly; his manner was that of a young man about to confide a love
affair to a sympathetic sister.

Phil slipped from under his hands and stood rigid, with her back against
the geranium box. She swallowed a sob and lifted her head to meet the
blow. He would not have it thus, but caught her hands and swung them in
a tight clasp.

"It's Nan, Phil, dear: Nan's promised to marry me! She's been saying she
never would. It was only last night she agreed to take this poor old
wreck and try to make a man of me. We meant to tell you to-day if Fred
Holton hadn't come in, and then the girls had to run. But nobody is to
know for a month yet; we mean to be married at Easter. That last point
we fixed up just now in the library. You see what a lot of things can
happen right here in dear old Montgomery within twenty-four hours."

He waited for one of her characteristic Philesque outbursts--one of the
tumultuous mussings with which she celebrated her happy surprises.
Nothing was needed to complete his joy but Phil's approval, about which
he had never had the slightest question. In his last talk with Nan on
Christmas Eve they had discussed Phil and the effect of their marriage
upon her rather more than upon themselves. And he had now exhausted
himself upon the announcement; there was nothing more that he could say.
Phil's hands were cold in his, and with an almost imperceptible pressure
she was thrusting him away from her. Two great tears welled in her eyes
and stole down her cheeks.

"Why, Phil! I thought you--you of all people in the world--"

"Mamma has come back!" said Phil colorlessly; and repeated, "mamma has
come back. She is at Uncle Amy's, and I have seen her."

There was silence for a little space while he stared at her. Their eyes
met in a long gaze. He grew suddenly white and she felt the trembling of
his hands.

"O God, no!" he said hoarsely. "You don't mean that, Phil. This is a
joke--not here; not in M