t," Nancy said hoarsely. "I've a bad throat, dear, I
wouldn't want you to catch it."

"I don't know where I'm going," the little girl said, "but I suppose
my father knows. I'll come back as soon as I can."

"Yes, dear," Nancy said. "Good-by."

Collier Pratt turned at the door and made an exaggerated gesture of
farewell.

"We part more in anger than in sorrow," he said.

"Oh! Go," Nancy cried.

As the door closed upon the two Nancy sank to her knees, and thence to
a crumpled heap on the floor, but remembering that Hitty would find
her there shortly, and being entirely unable to regain her feet
unaided, she started to crawl in the direction of her own room, and
presently arrived there, and pushed the door to behind her with her
heel.

CHAPTER XVIII

TAME SKELETONS

It was Sunday night, and New Year's Eve. Gaspard was preparing, and
Molly and Dolly were serving a special dinner for Preston Eustace,
planned weeks before on his first arrival in New York.

Before the great logs--imported by Michael for the occasion--that
blazed in the fireplace, a round table was set, decorously draped in
the most immaculate of fine linen, and crowned with a wreath of holly
and mistletoe, from which extended red satin trailers with a present
from Nancy for each guest, on the end of each. All the impedimenta of
the restaurant was cleared away, and a couch and several easy chairs
that Nancy kept in reserve for such occasions were placed comfortably
about the room. Only the innumerable starry candles and branching
candelabra were reminiscent of the room's more professional aspect.

Billy and Caroline were the first to arrive,--Caroline in pale
floating green tulle, which accentuated the pure olive of her
coloring, and transported Billy from his chronic state of adoration to
that of an almost agonizing worship. Dick and Betty were next. He had
realized the possible awkwardness of the situation for her, and had
been thoughtful enough to offer to call for her. She was in defiant
scarlet from top to toe, and had never looked more entrancing. Preston
Eustace was to come in from Long Island where he was spending the
holidays with a married sister. Michael received the guests and did
the honors beamingly.

"Where's Nancy?" Dick asked, as, divested of his outer garments, he
appeared without warning in the presence of the lovers. "Don't bother
to drop her hand, Billy. I don't see how you have the heart to, she's
so lovely to-nigh