ct the other's attention,
and when Mr. Hilton saw who was hailing him, a pleased smile ran over
his face and he strode forward with outstretched hand.

"Well, this is luck!" he began, but paused, seeing the girls. "I'm in
for a bit of lunch before the matinee, and I can only say 'howdy.'
Going to take in the miracle play at the Globe,--finest thing in town,
they say. See you later, perhaps," and he bowed to them all, vaguely
including the three girls in his kindly glance.

"Not much you won't!" cried David. "You're going to have lunch with
us--we've only just begun. I want you to meet my sisters. That is, if
you haven't any other engagement," and here he snickered, for there was
a rumor current in the Prep that Hilton was secretly devoted to some
unknown charmer.

The insinuation fell harmless, as far as the young professor was
concerned.

"I shall be delighted, if you'll be so good as to let me," he said
gratefully, with his sincere gaze on the festive group about the dainty
table. "I've heard of your good luck in finding your family, and am
very glad to meet them."

A chair was brought and another luncheon ordered, and soon they were
chattering as gayly as though they had all known each other for ages.
Elinor inquired for Mr. Lindley, who by chance had been Mr. Hilton's
room-mate at college, and heard that he was in France on his belated
honeymoon.

"He expected to be married last fall, but there was a hitch in getting
out his book," said Mr. Hilton, as he finished his salad. "So he
couldn't get away till last month."

"We had a great interest in that book," said Elinor smiling, "for he
was compiling it when he boarded with us last summer. I'm glad to hear
it is out at last. We'll have to get a copy of it, for old times'
sake."

Tom Hughes, who had been surreptitiously glancing at his watch beneath
the table cover, spoke reluctantly.

"If you people don't want to miss the first act, we'll have to be
toddling," he said. "It's about five minutes after two."

"Where are you going, Kendall?" asked Mr. Hilton as they pushed back
their chairs, and stood waiting for the last button on Judith's glove
to come to terms. "If you haven't settled on anything special, I'd
like to have you all see the new play with me. It's said to be the
finest thing in America, and I'm sure your sisters would enjoy it."

David acquiesced, as far as the play was concerned. "But you are not
going to take us," he said firm