entia! If it comes to that, how do you fondly imagine I shall
like the way Rathbone is sure to look at you?"

"Oh, Harry! Why, he's tattooed!"

"You see," went on Harry seriously, "I really am making a dash for it
about Daphne. She'll really be happy with Van Buren, and _I_ shall be
ever so much happier,--with Van Buren and everyone else,--because,
through Daphne being always with you, I never see you alone for one
single second."

"Oh, you exaggerate, Harry!"

"I know I do. I don't see you for half a second."

"Romer has been so nice lately," she answered gently.

"Very amusing, I suppose?"

"But--I often think how very nice he really is."

"Oh, don't say that, even in fun. I'm coming to stay with you in the
summer--at the Green Gate--unless you'd rather ask Rathbone instead."

"Or unless you'd rather go yachting with the Walmers," she remarked.
"They have a daughter, haven't they?"

"Oh, Valentia, be anything but blasphemous!..."

"Really?... Oh, Harry!"

"Do you mean to say you need my saying it?"

"No."

"Then, I will. Valentia, I--"

She got up and opened the door so that Daphne should not have to ring
when she returned.

When the two sisters left a few minutes later, Harry sat down again as
if in deep thought and lighted a cigarette. His servant came in.

"Please, sir, Mr. Van Buren is at the telephone."

"Oh well, tell him ... Oh no--, all right--I'll go."

CHAPTER III

VAN BUREN

"It's extremely kind of you, Harry, to let me come around like this in
the morning. I dare say you want to be working sometimes. I'm really
afraid of being in the way, but I was rather at a loose end this morning
and I wanted to have a talk with you," said Van Buren apologetically.

"Rot. Awfully glad to see you, old chap. Have a cigarette?"

"Thanks, Harry, no. I find I'm very much better if I don't smoke till
after tea.... We're intimate friends now, and yet you never call me
anything but my surname, or 'old chap'. That reminds me, there's a
little request I'd like to make of you, Harry."

"What's that?"

"Call me Matthew--no, call me plain Mat. It would give me real
pleasure."

Harry smiled rather loudly--

"My dear fellow, I couldn't call you plain Mat. It wouldn't be
suitable! You're too good-looking!"

Van Buren smiled and shook his head. In its way it was a handsome head
in the fair, clean-shaven American style, with shining blond hair. He
had very broad shoulders, and a very thin wai