d just parted
from the senator at the front door. His uniform was wonderfully
becoming.

"Is it Peter?"

They shook hands.

"Never," she said, "have I seen anything so beautiful!"

Peter blushed (looking even more beautiful, for he hated to be talked
about).

"Where was 'Laddin going?" he said. "He went by me like a shot out of a
gun, and had only time to pull my hat over my eyes and squeal Peeeter."

"He's very important now," said Margaret, "and wonders how anybody can
want to write things and be a poet or a musician when there are real
things to do in the world."

Peter looked at his watch.

"Isn't that the least bit rude?" said Margaret.

"No," said Peter; "my train back leaves in one hour, and I could better
afford to lose my chances of heaven. I had no business to come, as it
was. But I had to come."

Margaret sighed. She had hoped that it would not happen so soon. He
followed her into the parlor and closed the door behind him.

"First, Margaret," he said, "I'm going to tell you something that may
surprise you a little. It did me; it was so sudden. My sister Ellen is
going to be married."

"Ellen!" exclaimed Margaret. "Why, she always said--" "It's only been
arranged in the last few days," said Peter, "by many telegrams. I was
told to tell you."

"Is he nice?"

"Yes. He's a good chap."

"Rich?"

"Well--rather rising than rich."

"Who is it?"

"Your brother John."

"My dear Peter--"

"No--I never did, either!"

"Isn't that splendid!"

Peter pulled a grave face.

"Yes--and no," he said.

"I hope you're not going to be insolent," said Margaret.

"It depends on what you call insolent. My father, you see, objects very
much to having Ellen go out of the family, but he says that he can learn
to bear that if the only other girl in the world will come into the
family."

Manners' voice had become husky toward the last of the sentence, and
perhaps not husky so much as hungry. Margaret knew better than to say
anything of the kind, but she couldn't help looking as innocent as a
child and saying:

"Won't she?"

"How do I know?" said Peter. "I have come to ask her."

He looked so very strong and manly and frank that Margaret, whose world
had been terribly blue recently, was half tempted to throw herself into
his arms and cry.

"O Peter!" she said pitifully.

He came and sat beside her on the sofa, and drew her close to him.

"My darling," he said brokenly.

A great sense of trust