mother, I wish I did love Tom in the way he
wants me to love him, but I don't. I feel toward him just as I felt when
I first met him. He's a good comrade; nothing more."

"If you loved Tom, your father and I would be glad to welcome him as our
son, Grace," was her mother's quiet reply. "He is a remarkably fine type
of young man, but unless you reach the point where you are certain that
he is, and always will be, the one man in the world for you, you would
be doing not only yourself but him too, the greatest possible injury if
you promised to marry him."

"That is just it!" exclaimed Grace. "I told him so, but I know that
didn't console him. Last June when I came home from Overton I thought
perhaps I might say 'yes' later on. But now that I've been working for
almost a year I find I'd rather keep on working. It would be dreadful,
of course, if some day I should suddenly discover that I did love him
enough to marry him and then he shouldn't ask me. That isn't likely to
happen. I don't believe I could give up my work for any man. My whole
heart is in it."

In spite of her declaration of unswerving loyalty to her work, more than
once, Tom's fine resolute face rose before Grace on the return journey
to Overton. During the afternoon Emma, usually loquacious, became
absorbed in a book, so that Grace, who could not settle herself to read,
had altogether too much opportunity for reflection.

She was inwardly thankful when the lights of Overton twinkled into view.
Emma was still deep in her book. "We are almost there, Emma," she
reminded.

Emma glanced out of the window, then closed her book and began to gather
up her belongings.

"I wonder how things are at Harlowe House," mused Grace, as they crossed
the station platform. "Come on, Emma. There's a taxicab just turning
into the station driveway."

Three minutes later they were speeding through the silent streets. It
was after nine o'clock and there were few persons passing.

"No place like home," caroled Emma as they let themselves into Harlowe
House. In the living-room they found Louise Sampson and half a dozen
girls. At sight of Grace and Emma, Louise came quickly forward.

"We thought you would come!" she exclaimed, "so we decided to watch for
you. We have hot chocolate and sandwiches. Do say you're hungry."

"We are ravenous," assured Emma, "and as soon as we make a trip upstairs
and dispossess ourselves of our goods and chattels we'll come to the
party."

"Eve