d if we knew her at all. I'm afraid I made a little
mild fun of her, and he didn't say anything more. Well, I'm awfully
glad now that I didn't fall in love with him. I could have, but I
wouldn't."

Miss Ponsonby's appearance at the Hubbards' party was the biggest
sensation Glenboro had had for years. And in her way, she was a
positive belle. She didn't dance, but all the middle-aged men,
widowers, wedded, and bachelors, who had known her in her girlhood
crowded around her, and she laughed and chatted as I hadn't even
imagined Miss Ponsonby could laugh and chat. Jerry and I revelled in
her triumph, for did we not feel that it was due to us? At last Miss
Ponsonby disappeared; shortly after Jerry and I blundered into the
library to fix some obstreperous hairpins, and there we found her and
Stephen Shaw in the cosy corner.

There were no explanations on the road home, for Miss Ponsonby walked
behind us with Stephen Shaw in the pale, late-risen October moonshine.
But when we had sneaked through the neighbour-to-the-left's lane and
reached our side verandah we waited for her, and as soon as Stephen
Shaw had gone we laid violent hands on Miss Ponsonby and made her
'fess up there on the dark, chilly verandah, at one o'clock in the
morning.

"Miss Ponsonby," said Jerry, "before we assist you in returning to
those ancestral halls of yours you've simply got to tell us what all
this means."

Miss Ponsonby gave a little, shy, nervous laugh.

"Stephen Shaw and I were engaged to be married long ago," she said
simply. "But Father disapproved. Stephen was poor then. And so--and
so--I sent him away. What else could I do?"--for Jerry had
snorted--"Father had to be obeyed. But it broke my heart. Stephen went
away--he was very angry--and I have never seen him since. When Susan
Hubbard invited me to the party I felt as if I must go--I must see
Stephen once more. I never thought for a minute that he remembered
me--or cared still...."

"But he does?" said Jerry breathlessly. Jerry never scruples to ask
anything right out that she wants to know.

"Yes," said Miss Ponsonby softly. "Isn't it wonderful? I could hardly
believe it--I am so changed. But he said tonight he had never thought
of any other woman. He--he came home to see me. But when I never went
anywhere, even when I must know he was home, he thought I didn't want
to see him. If I hadn't gone tonight--oh, I owe it all to you two dear
girls!"

"When are you to be married?" dem