aying to him was just what he should have
expected once the color of her eyes had been determined.

"Please don't! You must never try to _understand_ things like this! You
see grandpa and mamma love larking, and this is a lark. We're always
larking, you know."

Hood's voice rose commandingly:

"Once when I was in jail in Utica----"

Deering regretted his shortness of leg that made it impossible to kick
his erratic companion under the table. But a chorus of approval greeted
this promising opening, and Hood continued relating with much detail the
manner in which he had once been incarcerated in company with a
pickpocket whose accomplishments and engaging personality he described
with gusto. There was no denying that Hood talked well, and the strict
attention he was receiving evoked his best efforts.

Deering, covertly glancing at his sister, found that she too hung upon
Hood's words. Her presence in the house still presented an enigma with
which his imagination struggled futilely, but no opportunity seemed
likely to offer for an exchange of confidences.

Constance was a thoroughbred and played her part flawlessly. Her
treatment by her employer left nothing to be desired; the amusing little
grandfather appealed to her now and then with unmistakable liking, and
the smiles that passed between her and Pierrette were evidence of the
friendliest relationship.

The dinner was served in a leisurely fashion that encouraged talk, and
Deering availed himself of every chance for a tete-a-tete with
Pierrette. She graciously came down out of the clouds and conversed of
things that were within his comprehension--of golf and polo for
example--and then passed into the unknown again. But in no way did she so
much as hint at her identity. When she referred to her mother or
grandfather she employed the pseudonyms by which he already knew them.
While they were on the subject of polo he asked her if she had witnessed
a certain match.

"Oh, yes, I was there!" she replied. "And, of course, I saw you; you were
the star performer. At tea afterward I saw you again, surrounded by
admirers." She laughed at his befuddlement. "But it's against all the
rules to try to unmask me! Of course, I know you, but maybe you will
never know me!"

"I don't believe you are cruel enough to prolong my agony forever! I
can't stand this much longer!"

"Perhaps some day," she answered quietly and meeting his eager gaze
steadily, "we shall meet just as the p