he buggy; the cob's flanks shone in the glittering ray
of the lamps; Carpenter was hidden under the hood; his mysterious hand
raised the apron, and Twemlow stepped quickly in.

'Good-night,' said Ethel.

'Good-night, Mr. Twemlow,' said Milly. 'Be good.'

'You'll see us again before you leave, Twemlow?' said John's imperious
voice.

'You aren't going back to America just yet, are you?' Leonora asked,
from the back.

No reply came from within the hood.

'Mother says you aren't going back to America just yet, are you, Mr.
Twemlow?' Milly screamed in her treble.

Arthur Twemlow showed his face. 'No, not yet, I think,' he called. 'See
you again, certainly.... And thanks once more.'

'Tchick!' said Carpenter.

* * * * *

The next evening, after tea, John, Leonora, and Rose were in the
drawing-room. Milly had run down to see her friend Cissie Burgess,
having with fine cruelty chosen that particular night because she
happened to know that Harry would be out. Ethel was invisible. Rose had
returned with bitter persistence to the siege of her father's obstinacy.

'I should have six weeks clear,' she was saying.

John consulted his pocket-calendar.

'No,' he corrected her, 'you would only have a month. It isn't worth
while.'

'I should have six weeks,' she repeated. 'The exam isn't till January
the seventh.'

'But Christmas, what about Christmas? You must be here for Christmas.'

'Why?' demanded Rose.

'Oh, Rosie!' Leonora protested.' You can't be away for Christmas!'

'Why not?' the girl demanded again, coldly.

Both parents paused.

'Because you can't,' said John angrily. 'The idea's absurd.'

'I don't see it,' Rose persevered.

'Well, I do,' John delivered himself. 'And let that suffice.'

Rose's face indicated the near approach of tears.

It was at this juncture that Bessie opened the door and announced Mr.
Twemlow.

'I just called to bring back that magnificent great-coat,' he said.
'It's hanging up on its proper hook in the hall.'

Then he turned specially to Leonora, who sat isolated near the fire. She
was not surprised to see him, because she had felt sure that he would at
once return the overcoat in person; she had counted on him doing so. As
he came towards her she languorously lifted her arm, without rising, and
the two bangles which she wore slipped tinkling down the wide sleeve.
They shook hands in silence, smiling.

'I hope you didn't take cold last ni