, if not for her own.

"I have but just turned the bend in the road," she replied, with sweet
girlish dignity. "Your question, Miss Vincent, surprises me," she said.
"I have no need to answer it, I think."

"But you always do happen around just when people least expect you,
Alice Lee."

"I hope my old friends will always find my presence welcome," returned
Alice, quietly.

"To be sure, you are welcome," interposed Kendal. "Miss Vincent and I
were only conversing upon the salient points of a new novel we finished
reading yesterday. If you would care to hear it, I shall be pleased to
go over the plot with you, and hear your opinion regarding it."

"I fear it would not benefit you, for I am not much of a novel reader,
and understand very little of plots and plotting."

Was this a quiet drive at them? both thought as they looked up
instantly.

But the soft, gray eyes of Alice Lee looked innocently enough from one
to the other.

She seemed in no hurry to pass on, and Iris felt that for the second
time that afternoon her _tete-a-tete_ with handsome Harry Kendal was to
be broken up, and from this moment henceforth she owed Alice Lee more of
a grudge than ever, and she felt sure that the girl knew it.

Upon one point Alice was determined--that no matter how coldly Iris
Vincent might treat her, she should not leave Dorothy's lover alone with
her and in her power--she would stand by her poor little blind friend,
who needed her aid in this terrible hour more than she would ever know,
God help her!

Although long silences fell between the trio, still Alice lingered,
chatting so innocently that they could not find it in their hearts to be
very angry with her; and they could not bring themselves to believe that
she had a purpose in her guileless actions.

There was no alternative but to walk homeward with her; but they did not
ask her in when they reached the gates of Gray Gables, and so Alice had
no excuse to enter to see Dorothy and warn her, but was obliged to pass
on.

Mrs. Kemp and two or three of the servants were on the porch, so that
there was no opportunity to exchange but a few whispered words. They
were just about to part when Iris happened to think that Kendal had not
told her what was said of those who gather and weave autumn leaves
together, as he had promised.

She paused suddenly and looked up archly into his face.

"What about the autumn-leaf mystery?" she exclaimed. "You know you were
to tell me a