got nobody else in
the whole world!" And looking up, "Wallace, you go."

Instantly Mrs. Milo's weeping quieted.

"Today?" asked her brother, impatiently.

"Yes, now! Right away!" Sue got to her feet.

"Oh, Sue, there's no rush!"

Mrs. Milo, suddenly dry-eyed, came to her son's rescue. "And why
should Wallace go?" she asked. "Mr. Farvel is the one."

"No! No!" he cried, scowling at her. "I won't have Alan worried."

"Mm!" commented Mrs. Milo, ruffled at having her good offices so little
appreciated. "You're very considerate."

"I understand the matter better than anyone else," he explained, trying
to speak more politely. "Alan can't even bear to talk about it.
So--I'll go."

Sue turned to Balcome. "And you go with him," she suggested.

"But why?"--again it was a nervous, frightened protest.

Sue nodded toward Hattie, standing so slim and still beside her father.
"So my little sister will feel all right about it," she explained.
"Because nothing, Wallace, must worry her. It's her happiness we want
to think of, isn't it?--dear Hattie's."

"Oh, yes! Yes!"

"The address--I'll write it down." She bent over the desk.

Wallace went to Hattie. "Good-by," he said, tremulously. "I'll be
right back." He leaned to kiss her, but she turned her face away. His
lips brushed only her cheek.

Sue thrust the address into his hand. "Here. And, oh, Wallace, be
very kind to her!"

"Of course. Yes. I'll do what I can." But he seemed scarcely to know
what he was saying. He fingered the card Sue had given him, and
watched Hattie.

Urging him toward the vestibule, Sue glanced down at her bridesmaid's
dress, then searchingly about the room--for a hat, a wrap. "And bring
them together--won't you?" she went on, taking Balcome's arm. At the
door, she crowded in front of him.

"Susan," challenged her mother.

"Yes, mother,"--coming short, with a whimsically comical look that
acknowledged discovery and defeat.

"They can find their way out. Come back."

Sue came. "But I could go with them, and not see Miss Crosby." Once
more that note of childlike pleading. "I could just wait near by."

"Wait here, Susan.--Oh, I realize that you could be there and back
before I'd know it."

Sue laughed. "Oh, she's a smart little mother!" she said fondly.
"Yes, she is!"

"She knows your tricks," retorted Mrs. Milo, wisely. "You'd even
trapse out in that get-up.--Please don't fidget while I'm talking."

Se