girl, whose eyes brightened--"take a few excursions with her friend Mrs.
James and me, in my car this week. You'll be busy and----"

"I should have been delighted, and I'm sure Barrie would," broke in Mrs.
Bal, "but you're just too late. A new thing for you, isn't it? I've been
having the most charming visit with Mrs. West, who is better, but must
keep to her rooms for two or three days. Her car will be eating its head
off unless it's used, and I've promised that her friends the
Vannecks--such _nice_ people! I met them in Mrs. West's
sitting-room--and Mr. Norman shall have Barrie for--probably--the very
excursions you have in mind. Too bad! But first come, first served!
You've all been so good to this girl, one hardly knows how to choose
between you. But I thought Mrs. James was going home at once? I
understood from Barrie that she said so last night?"

"She has decided to stay until the little surprise I'm trying to arrange
for her, comes off--or on. She doesn't know what it is, but she pays me
the compliment of taking it on trust. She'll be disappointed at having
to give up the motor runs she was looking forward to with Barrie."

"You've plenty of old friends in Edinburgh, I'm sure," suggested Mrs.
Bal, "and you can make up a party to console dear Mrs. James for the
loss of Barrie."

"I don't believe Mrs. James can be induced to take any excursions
without Barrie," said Somerled: which meant that he didn't intend to
leave Edinburgh while the girl was in it and at the mercy of her erratic
parent. I thought he was anxious Barrie should understand that he was
not going to desert her. Perhaps she did understand, for she is quick in
penetration; but her own pride, and loyalty to Mrs. Bal, kept her from
showing that she felt need of protection, or even that she supposed
Somerled to be offering it. She did show, however, that it grieved her
to refuse his invitation. She took the "tip" he gave and put it all upon
Mrs. James: how sorry she was not to do any more sight-seeing with dear
Mrs. James. But I knew that the name in her heart was not the name on
her tongue.

Aline had scored. I wanted to know just how, and how far, but I
determined not to leave Barrie with Somerled. I needn't have worried,
however, for Mrs. Bal and I had the same thought. She asked if Barrie
would like to go to the theatre with her and watch a rehearsal.
Naturally, Barrie said yes, and Somerled and I saw them off in the
smaller of the two motor-