that would not be overheard. For once Miss
Jenny Ann Jones, who had always been the most lenient of chaperons,
determined to play the part of a stern dragon. She decided that, of
late, the young man had been altogether too attentive to Phyllis. She
sat on the girl's side and took part in the conversation between her
and the young lieutenant. When he proposed that Miss Alden walk with
him in the hotel garden, Miss Jones quietly rose and went out with
them.

Lieutenant Lawton was desperate. He must give Phyllis the box which he
desired her to keep for him before the evening was over. Yet how could
he appoint the time and place where she could receive it if he never
had a moment with her in private? Miss Jenny Ann entered first the
revolving door that formed the ladies' entrance to Mrs. Curtis's hotel.
Before the door swung around again Lieutenant Lawton had time to
whisper:

"You and Miss Morton meet me, if you can, by the tree on the south side
of the hotel porch just before you start for the houseboat."

Phil had just time to nod in reply when she caught Miss Jenny Ann
gazing at her reproachfully through the glass of the door.

If Phyllis had not thought Lieutenant Jimmy Lawton a patriot and a
genius, she would never have undertaken to help him without being
allowed to confide her part in the affair to her chaperon. But if Madge
were romantic in her way, Phil was equally so in hers. While Madge
dreamed of lovely ladies and romantic knights in the days of chivalry,
Phyllis had visions of the glory of self-sacrifice, of patriotism, of
doing great deeds for other people. She wanted to study medicine
because she thought some day she might be able to go as a hospital
nurse on the field of battle. To be able to help Lieutenant Lawton in
even the smallest way to do a service for his country was a source of
great delight to Phil. She was actually thrilled by it.

Madge, who had been watching her friend, wished that she would not show
her feelings so plainly. Across the room she could see that Phyllis was
pale and restless. Once or twice Madge saw Alfred Thornton staring at
Phyllis; then he turned to hold a whispered conversation with Flora
Harris.

Early in the evening Lieutenant Lawton disappeared from the drawing
room. As soon as the rehearsal of their play was over Alfred Thornton
made his escape.

Lieutenant Jimmy did not go to his work-shop; he went to his quarters.
Half an hour later he returned with a square box