r," he said. And then, as her face did not brighten:
"Why, my dearest, you aren't going to worry because your people aren't
in the Social Register, and don't go to the Brownings'? I know all sorts
of people, Ju--Kearney, up there, is a good friend of mine! And I know
from Aunt Sanna that you're a long way ahead of your own people."

"I don't know whether it's 'ahead' or not," said Julia, with a worried
laugh. "I suppose only God knows the real value of finger bowls and
toothbrushes and silk stockings! I _suppose_ it's 'ahead'!"

She opened the Tolands' side gate as she spoke, and they went into the
bare garden.

"Well--but _don't_ go in," pleaded Jim, "there'll be a mob about us in no
time, and I've never had you to myself before! When may I come see your
people?"

"Will you write?" Julia asked at the side door.

"Oh, but darling, when we've just begun to talk!" fretted Jim. "Would
you dare to kiss me right here--no one could possibly see us!"

"I would _not_!" And Julia flashed him one laughing look as she opened the
door. A moment later he heard her running up the stairway.

Julia found Miss Toland upstairs, hastily packing. "Well, runaway!" said
the older lady. And then, in explanation, "I think we'd best go, Julia,
for my brother and Teddy have just got home, and there'll have to be a
great family council to-night."

"Would you stay if I went?" Julia asked, coming close to her.

"No, you muggins! I'd pack you off in a moment if that was what I meant!
No, I'm glad enough to get out of it!" Miss Toland stood up. "What's Jim
Studdiford been saying to you to give you cheeks like that?" she asked.

"I don't know," Julia whispered, with a tremulous laugh. And for the
first time she went into Miss Toland's open arms, and hid her face, and
for the first time they kissed each other.

"Anything settled?" the older woman presently asked in great
satisfaction.

"Not--quite!" Julia said.

"Not quite! Well, that's right; there's no need of hurry. Oh, law me!
I've seen this coming," Miss Toland assured her; "he all but told me
himself a week ago! Well, well, well! And it only goes to show, Julia,"
she added, shaking a skirt before she rolled it into a ball and laid it
in her suitcase, "that if you give a girl an occupation, she's better
off, she's more useful, and it doesn't keep her fate from finding her
out! You laugh, because you've heard me say this before, but it's true!"

Julia had laughed indeed; her heart w