d. "Friend?" he repeated. "He's more like a younger
brother to me. But that doesn't warrant my intruding on him, does it?"

Mrs. Milo lifted her eyebrows. "I hope," she commented, with something
of that same sorrowful intonation which characterized the speech of
Dora, "--I hope there's no reason why you shouldn't meet this Crosby
girl."

Farvel stared at her. "I?" he demanded, too astonished by her daring
to be angry. "Why--why----"

At this juncture the library door opened and Dora entered, to set the
room to rights apparently, for she gave a critical look about, arranged
the writing-desk, and put a chair in place.

"Dora," said Mrs. Milo, "you saw Miss Susan?"

Dora lifted pale eyes. "Oh, yes," she answered, "but only a fleeting
glimpse."

"Glimpse?" repeated Mrs. Milo, startled.

"From the rear portal"--with an indefinite wave of the hand--"she
turned that way."

"Oh! She went! To that Crosby girl! And I forbade her!--Mr. Farvel,
come!"

"But I'm not wanted," urged the clergyman.

"Why do you hold back? Don't I want you?"

Farvel pondered a moment, his look on Hattie, standing in the
bay-window, now, alert but motionless. "Well, I'll come," he said at
last.

"Dora!" cried Mrs. Milo, as she fluttered hallward; "my bonnet!"

Dora had gone by the same door through which she had come. Hattie and
Farvel were alone. She turned and came to stand beside him. "Why do
you suppose----" she commenced; and then, more bluntly, "What was the
matter with Miss Crosby?"

Farvel studied her face for a moment, his own full of anxious sympathy.
"I can't imagine," he said, finally; "but whatever it is you may be
sure of one thing--Wallace isn't to blame."

Hattie's look met his. "It's queer, isn't it?" she said; "but
that--well, that doesn't seem to be troubling me at all." Then for no
reason whatever, she put out her hand. He took it, instantly touched.
Her eyes were glistening with tears. She turned and went out into the
Close.

Farvel stood for a moment gazing after her. Then remembering his
promise to Mrs. Milo, he hastened in the direction of his study.

As the hall door shut after him, the library door swung wide, and Dora
came bouncing in, waving an arm joyously. "Your path is clear!" she
announced.

At her back was Sue, looking properly guilty, and scrambling into a
coat that would hide the bridesmaid's dress. "Just what did you tell
mother?" she inquired.

"I said you went that way